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In Memoriam 

By Catherine Vallejo, Classics, Linguistics and Modern Languages

Joseph Macaluso, 1938-2007

We learned with sadness of the death on Sept. 29 of Professor “Joe” Macaluso, a longtime faculty member in what is now the Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics.

Joe came to Sir George Williams University in 1965 as Assistant Professor of Spanish, joining Jack Grayson (now also deceased) to constitute the Spanish program. By 1971 he was Assistant Professor of Spanish and Italian, and by 1986 had added Supervisor of Hebrew to his titles.

His interests were medieval Spanish literature as related to Arab culture, but as I can attest personally, he was a versatile and interesting educator, teaching a wide variety of courses with competence and great humour.

He was instrumental in the modernization of the Spanish curriculum, and was for many years the department’s student advisor. His concern for students moved him to participate in the Concordia Council for Student Life. He also played an active role in the renewal of the Chaplain’s Office, joining the “God squad” (as the group called itself), in the early 1970s.

The Rev. Matti Terho, now retired from the Chaplain’s Office, remembers Joe with respect and affection. Among many other activities over the years, they collaborated in the writing of a report on the work of the chaplains at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

Joe retired in 1995. While his death closes an important chapter in the history of the department, his legacy lives on in the programs.