By David Gordon, News Editor
Dr. William McBrien, an English professor at the University from 1967 until his retirement in 1998, died Saturday, October 10 after a battle with blood cancer.
McBrien was the editor of the English Department’s scholarly journal “Twentieth-Century Literature.” His biographies of American songwriter Cole Porter and English poet and novelist Stevie Smith were called “definitive,” by English Department chair Joseph Fichtelberg.
“He was known for his wit, his style, his musical virtuosity and his deep commitment to teaching,” Dr. Fichtelberg said.
McBrien suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. The brother of the late Susan Burnett and John McBrien, he is also survived by his nieces and nephews. His funeral took place on Tuesday, October 13 at Our Lady Queen of Maryrs Church in Forest Hills, Queens. He is interred at St. Patrick Cemetery in Huntington.
(L to R) Linton Thorn, William McBrien, Alice Levine, and Andrew Kappel (Photo Courtesy of Hofstra University archives)
