Dr. John J. Stinson

John, known then as Jack, grew up in Brooklyn where he attended St. Jerome’s Catholic School for eight years. An exemplary student, John served as head altar boy on a regular basis and helped out in the neighborhood rectory.

It was assumed that John would pursue a vocation to the priesthood. Following graduation from elementary school, he was enrolled in the high school division of Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception Preparatory Seminary in the Brooklyn Diocese. While he was studying there, John’s parents passed away unexpectedly both from heart disease within a ten month period. Barely eighteen years of age, John was asked to identify his father who lay in a morgue on Christmas Day. The premature death of both parents had a profound effect on John.

Jack became the ward of an aunt and eventually transferred from minor seminary to St. John’s University in Brooklyn where he received financial aid for undergraduate studies. A graduate assistantship in St. John’s English department enabled him to earn his BA and MA in English in 1962 and 1963 respectively.

John wished to continue his studies in English literature at New York University, but lacked sufficient funds. With unending gratitude and relief he became the recipient of a State University of New York Regents College Teaching Fellowship for 1962-1964. While pursuing doctoral studies in English at NYU, he fulfilled the fellowship’s college teaching requirements by serving as lecturer in the Brooklyn College English Department’s School of General Studies during the spring of 1965.

While taking courses at NYU, John met Jim Cunningham who had been hired as an English instructor at SUNY Fredonia. At his friend’s recommendation, John applied and was interviewed by Dr. Nancy Libby, then current English department chair at SUNY Fredonia. She offered him a position in the English department for the 1965 fall semester. Over a forty-five year period, John focused on teaching, researching and analyzing modern British literature. Instructing SUNY Fredonia students, associating with like-minded colleagues and living in Western New York agreed with John. While teaching a Modern British class in 1968, he met and later married Dianne Posthumus, the following year.

John continued his doctoral studies, a path assisted by the State University of New York Research Foundation Award and was granted his Ph.D. from NYU in 1973. John remained grateful to the State of New York for all the financial assistance, without which his life would have turned out very differently.

Over the years, Dr. Stinson taught an array of classes in literature and film, served on numerous committees, and was advisor to the LEADER. He published over thirty articles and reviews culminating in books on Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange) and V.S. Pritchett. Dr. Stinson was a faculty member whose scholarship had become recognized at the college and beyond. He was asked to deliver the prestigious Kasling Lecture in 2000 and was later recognized with his inclusion in Who’s Who in America. He wrote a cadre of reviews of SUNY Fredonia drama productions for the OBSERVER, was guest on the “Fredonia Face to Face” television program in 1984 and was advisor to the students’ Literary Society. Teaching effectiveness records reflect Dr. Stinson’s teaching style. Over the years, his classroom management, knowledge, scholarship, and kindly demeanor were valued by students. Because of his longevity at the college, John was mace bearer for undergraduate as well as graduate commencement ceremonies.

John enjoyed walking and over the years, could be seen making his way on Cottage Street to and from the college. He enjoyed bowling on the Dods Hall alleys before they were replaced by a fitness center. John took pleasure in playing Scrabble and watching Jeopardy. He became keenly interested in genealogy and spent much of his life tracing ancestry to England and Ireland. To that end, he corresponded with relatives near and far. John enjoyed seeing the world. As their sons outgrew family trips, John and Dianne traveled extensively favoring vacations on river boats, small ships and ocean liners throughout Europe, the United States, Russia, Scandinavia and Central America.

Prior to the Covid pandemic and John’s onset of Alzheimer’s, John and Dianne enjoyed a Mississippi River cruise and were considering a rail trip through Canada.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by Elizabeth, an older infant sister, and several aunts and cousins in Brooklyn. He is survived by his wife, Dianne of 55 years, two sons: Gregory (Cecilia) Stinson, of Gilbert, Arizona and Matthew Stinson of Fredonia, as well as grandsons Nicholas and Isaac Stinson of Arizona and cousins in Brooklyn.

Visitation will be held at the LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Ave., Fredonia on Wednesday December 4, 2024 from 2-4pm & 6- 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, (Corner of Cushing & Orchard Streets, please assemble at Church) Thursday December 5, 2024 at 10 am. Interment will be in St. Anthony Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Theatre Arts Department, c/o The Fredonia College Foundation, 272 Central Ave., Fredonia, NY 14063 (www.fredonia.edu/give) or the 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia, NY 14063, (fredopera.org). Online condolences can be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by David J. Dengler.