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In Memoriam: Stephen Black
The Department of English remembers Stephen Ames Black, professor emeritus, who passed away on January 1st, 2025, at the age of 89.
Professor Black taught at SFU English for many years, retiring in 2000. The focus of his work was on American literature, writing books and articles about authors, such as, Eugene O鈥橬eill, James Thurber, and Walt Whitman. In 1999, he wrote a biography of O鈥橬eill entitled, Eugene O'Neill: Beyond Mourning and Tragedy. He also had an interest in Greek tragedy and psychoanalysis.
Born in 1935, Black earned his BA and MA at California State College and completed his PhD in English at the University of Washington in 1961. He also received a nine-year didactic diploma from the Seattle Psychoanalytic Institute in 1977. Before coming to SFU, he taught at Monmouth College in New Jersey.
In addition to his professorship at SFU, Black was an affiliate instructor at the Seattle Psychoanalytic Institute in Washington State and President of The Eugene O'Neill International Society (1999-2001). *
SFU English offers its condolences to Professor Black鈥檚 widow, Mrs. Georgina Black, and all his family, friends, and colleagues. It was Professor Black鈥檚 wish that the full or partial collection of his comprehensive literature library be given to an aspiring English major or honours student. Interested students should contact Professor Diana Solomon: diana_solomon@sfu.ca
If you would like to share a note of condolence, please email: englcmns@sfu.ca
*Adapted from and