James Denise McGowan

1938-2014

 On Friday, March 7, 2014, the IWU English Department lost Professor Emeritus James “Jim” McGowan.

Celebration of Jim's Life--Wednesday, April 16th, 4 pm in the Young Main Lounge of the Memorial Center 

All are invited to a Celebration of Life service for Professor Emeritus James McGowan tomorrow (Wednesday, April 16) at the Young Main Lounge, Memorial Center. The gathering begins at 4 p.m., followed by a meal in Joslin Atrium.

James died March 7. He was a member of the IWU English department from 1969-2000 before retiring.

Poet of Cats I trust you will notice that I   am the cat named Piscataway   because I am once from new jersey you may wish to admire my coat   sleek grey with black stripes   and memorable touches of cinnamon I am mrs mcgowans friend   and I am the resident poet   which I have been since 19 and 72   during which time I have composed   all of the professors poems there are some who admire my baudelaire   would you like to scratch my ears come in yes come into the house   we will call for a saucer of milk   and if you will pardon my french you will enjoy a very nice chatte -- John Knoepfe

Poetical Pussycat, McLean County Festival thank you for noticing me and for addressing my poetic achievements but I must tell you I did not always live here with the professor and Anne in my youth I made my living as pursuer of squirrels that was when I ranged through the neighborhood before I deigned to favor any one family true I was a poor hunter and that was a lowpoint in my life but now I have become a normal poet and feline role model like others I sleep in the sun and climb onto the laps of those with allergies I can play short piano pieces of my own composition/ I like staying out late on warn nights and a recreational hit of catnip but to be petted that is special when my fur is stroked my head is scratched and I am appreciated for my body as well as my art that is when I feel safe and lose my anxiety over low prosaic cats in streets and alleys oh but forgive me prattling and let me thank you again for your sensitive and understanding poem concerning myself. --Jim McGowan

 

Pantagraph.com
April 15, 2014 

NORMAL — James Denise McGowan, of Normal, breathed his last at 4:55 a.m. on March 7, 2014. He died peacefully at home at age 75.

A celebration of life will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Young Main Lounge, Illinois Wesleyan University Memorial Student Center, Bloomington, with buffet supper following.

For years he soldiered on heroically despite his increasing disability caused by pulmonary sarcoidosis. He never smoked.

Jim was born June 7, 1938, in Neptune, N.J., the eldest son of Martin Raymond McGowan and Ruth Denise McGowan. They predeceased him, as did a younger brother, John Charles.

He was educated in Freehold and Howell Township schools and graduated from Middlebury College and Rutgers University with a doctorate degree in English. He carved out a distinguished career as a teacher, poet, traveler and translator, with noteworthy publications in his name.

He married Anne Weston McGowan on July 3, 1958, at Fort Devens, Mass. They had three children, Andrew John (Laura) McGowan, Topeka, Kan.; Caitlin (Anthony) Visser, Las Vegas, Nev.; and Michael James McGowan, Durham, N.C.

The family enjoyed time in Southwest Harbor, Maine. They all survive him, as do three grandsons, Benjamin, Joseph and Eric Visser, Las Vegas, Nev.

Jim is also survived by his sister, Mary Patricia Hickey, Clonmel, Ireland, and his brother, Martin Raymond McGowan, Oceanport, N.J.

Memorials may be made to Illinois Wesleyan University or United Way.

Cremation service was provided by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.calvertmemorial.com.

Four Professors Retire From Illinois Wesleyan University

Sherry Wallace
May 16, 2000

James McGowan

Professor of English James McGowan has served as director of IWU's May Term Program for the past four years. 

During his teaching career at IWU, McGowan received numerous awards for his poetry, including the Illinois Arts Council Literary Award in 1980. McGowan also participated in the Illinois Author's Book Fair held at Illinois State University's Milner Library in November 1995, and acted in Heartland Theatre's production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof." 

A native of Neptune, N.J., McGowan received his bachelor's degree in 1959 at Middlebury College and a master's degree in 1965 and a Ph.D. in English at Rutgers University in 1968. McGowan's interests include the historical consideration of American poetry and the poetry of Charles Baudelaire. In 1975, McGowan published 66 translations of the original French version of Baudelaire's poems "Les Fleurs du Mal" (The Flowers of Evil). McGowan's other publications include a poetry book entitled "Each Other--"Where We Are," and "Benchmark: Anthology of Illinois Poetry," which he co-edited with Lynn Devore, IWU associate professor and chair of the English department. 

McGowan is a member of Illinois Writer's Inc. and various local literary and historical societies. He resides in Bloomington with his wife Anne. The couple have three grown children. 

In retirement, McGowan plans to travel to Ireland and write poetry.

 IWU Digital Commons

 

Sestina: Knowledge and Wisdom

Poem for the Inauguration of Richard F. Wilson
by James McGowan, Professor of English Emeritus 

 This is a happy day at IWU,
bestowing trust upon a man to lead us
in our work in offices, in classrooms,
laboratories, studios - pursuing knowledge,
as we say, and hoping to inspire
students to begin the quest for wisdom

 If we can. But it is rare, this wisdom,
and is it often seen, even at IWU?
No guarantee, though we persist, and may inspire
students and ourselves toward this high goal. For us
it's best we concentrate on knowledge.
“Knowledge” and “college” rhyme. Our classrooms 

 are appropriate for its pursuit - classrooms
of philosophy, of science: the “wisdom
of the ages” or the sudden thrust of knowledge
at the cutting edge. At IWU
things sometimes happen that astonish us.
Teachers and students work together to inspire 

 breakthroughs in physics, or a poem may inspire
a piece of music. Practiced in our classrooms,
art displays, performances extend to us
a felt experience, a kind of wisdom
of imagination, proved along the nerves. You
need this too, another kind of knowledge. 

 There is a menace in America today: Knowledge
mis-valued by myopic moralists, who inspire
bigotry we must deplore at IWU,
smug ignorance we must challenge and oppose. Classrooms
of learned give and take expand our minds Wisdom
may be elusive anywhere, but as for us 

 we see where wisdom's not. It's up to us
to meet the new Know-Nothings in the name of knowledge,
excellence of intellect, a sign of wisdom.
Sicne is spurned, language debased; let us inspire
Attention, mental vigilance in all our classrooms.
May you be steadfast in this struggle, IWU.

  We stand for knowledge as we hope for wisdom
to inspire us in classrooms, in our lives.
Scientia, Sapientia. IWU.