A body found in the Charles River has been identified as that of a Boston University music professor who disappeared a month ago, officials said Tuesday.

An autopsy determined that John Daverio, whose body was found Monday by a college rowing team, had drowned, Middlesex District Attorney's spokeswoman Emily LaGrassa said.

The circumstances of Daverio's death were unknown, but police Capt. William Evans said investigators do not suspect foul play. Prosecutors said it wasn't clear how long the body had been in the water.

Daverio, a Sharon native, was in Sharon from March 11 to 16 to visit his parents, John D. and Magaret Daverio. He was last seen the evening of March 16 headed toward the BU Bridge, which spans the river. He had taught at BU since 1979.

Daverio, 48, was one of the world's leading scholars on the work of composer Robert Schumann. He recently published a book called "Crossing Paths: Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms," which explored the link between art and life in the work of the three musicians.

"He was a distinguished, provocative, fine, scintillating teacher," said Andre de Quadros, Director of the School of Music at the College of Fine Arts.

Schumann, who died in 1856, attempted to kill himself two years earlier by throwing himself in the Rhine in 1854. Boston University Police Capt. Robert Molloy said investigators were aware of the coincidence, but didn't think it played a role in Daverio's disappearance.

Elizabeth Seitz, a fellow music professor who had been Daverio's friend for 18 years, rejected any hypothesis that Daverio had committed suicide.

"He was doing well," she said. "He was at the peak of his career. ... He was always busy, had a million friends. And everyone universally respected and liked him."

Daverio, chairman of BU's musicology department, graduated in his sophomore year from Sharon High School, earned his bachelor's and graduate degrees at BU and immediately began teaching, his aunt, Joanne Daverio of Sharon, told The Herald last month.

Obituary information was unavailable.

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