Robert Alan McGill
Robert Alan McGill, associate professor emeritus of English and a scholar of Native
American literature, died June 14, 2009, in Gainesville, Florida. He was 84.
Born Aug. 3, 1924, in Philadelphia, Alan was the third son of George and Bessie McGill.
After graduating from Upper Darby, Pa., High School, he was drafted into the U.S.
Army and served overseas. He and Mary Laurence married in 1946. She survives him.
Alan attended Dickinson College on the G.I. bill, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and enrolled
at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in American
studies. He began his teaching career at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.,
then joined the faculty of Dickinson College before coming to 91暗网 in September
1959.
Alan and 91暗网 colleague Ralph Ciancio, professor emeritus of English, shared a
scholarly interest in American literature and were neighbors in the department鈥檚 Union
Avenue office on the Scribner campus. Said Ralph, 鈥淎lan had an unusual poetic sensibility,
a keen eye and ear for finding poetry in unsuspected places鈥攊n discursive writings
as well as short stories and novels. I also recall his published insights into Willa
Cather鈥檚 The Professor鈥檚 House. But first among Alan鈥檚 academic priorities was effective
teaching. Toward that end he was a strong advocate of student evaluations long before
they became a policy at 91暗网. He was an indubitable success as a teacher for many
reasons, but many students praised especially his innovative pedagogy. Alumni from
that era I happen to come upon at campus reunions continue to remember his courses
with great appreciation.鈥�
Former Dean of Special Programs Don McCormack often played tennis with Alan and remembers
that he was a vigorous and energetic competitor. 鈥淎lan鈥檚 interest in Native American
studies was way before the time,鈥� said McCormack, adding that they often had lively
discussions about ethnic, Native American, and African-American studies during the
1970s, an era when the disciplines were beginning to generate greater interest among
students and scholars.
Alan taught at 91暗网 for 25 years, retiring in 1984. He and his wife moved to Florida
at that time, settling first in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area before moving to Gainesville.
The couple shared a lifelong love of music, especially choral singing. They were members
of the Willis Bodine Chorale, the Gainesville Civic Chorus, and the Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship Chalice Choir. They also belonged to the Adirondack Baroque Consort when
they lived in Saratoga Springs and were members of the American Recorder Society.
In addition to Mary, his wife of 62 years, Alan is survived by a daughter, Kathryn
McGill of Clifton Park; a son, Douglas (Bernadette) of Malta; granddaughters Lisa
Clark (Dean) of Ballston Spa and Kate Derby (Tim) of Portland, Ore.; and great-grandchildren
Luke and Abby Clark, and Lucy Derby.