A Harvard Magazine Tradition Ends

John de Cuevas ’52 will no longer contribute crossword puzzles to Harvard Magazine.

John de Cuevas ’52, who has for decades contributed original crossword puzzles to Harvard Magazine’s print and online editions, has announced that he will no longer produce new puzzles for the series. In an email, he wrote: 

Several readers have asked me why my puzzles no longer appear on the Harvard Magazine website. I answer, because I’m no longer up to speed. I turned 86 last October and in the last few years have experienced a slackening of mental and physical powers. I’m still putting puzzles on my website, www.puzzlecrypt.com, one every month, twelve a year, but the extra ones I was doing for Harvard are more than I can manage now. I’m sorry about that, but it’s out of my reach.

Thanks to all who asked about the puzzles and to the editors of Harvard Magazine for providing me an outlet for them these many years.

The magazine thanks de Cuevas for his many years of service and creativity. Below, find a puzzle he created for the magazine’s September-October 1986 issue, in celebration of Harvard’s 350th anniversary. 


Click image to enlarge. 
Courtesy of Harvard Magazine

You might also like

Harvard Magazine March-April 2024 Scavenger Hunt

March-April 2024 Print Issue Scavenger Hunt

Unraveling the Universe through Puzzles

In his freshman seminar, Cumrun Vafa uses puzzles to help students understand complex physics.

Remaking the Grid

Paolo Pasco and the art of making crosswords

Most popular

Making Art Work

David Andersson’s quest to reshape the public realm

House Committee Subpoenas Harvard Over Tuition Costs

The University must turn over all requested materials related to tuition and financial aid by mid-July. 

In Federal Court, Harvard and the Government Have Friends

A look at the amicus curiae briefs in Harvard’s funding case

Explore More From Current Issue

The Harvard Professor Who Quantified Democracy

Erica Chenoweth’s data shows how—and when—authoritarians fall.

Harvard Medalists

Four people honored for exceptional service to the University

Salsa Squared

Latin dancing fills the streets in Harvard Square