Fonds F 0044 - Eugene McNamara fonds

Eugene McNamara (1930-2016) was an American-born Canadian poet, novelist, and English professor long considered “the driving force behind Windsor’s literary scene.” Born in Oak Park, Illinois, McNamara earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from DePaul University (Chicago) before completing his PhD in literature at Northwestern University. He was already a published author of poetry and short stories, teaching at the University of Illinois, when, in 1959, he was hired to teach American literature and creative writing in the English Department at Assumption University (soon to become the University of Windsor). In 1965 he founded a literary journal called the University of Windsor Review (now The Windsor Review), which he also edited until 1985. In 1967 he began establishing and nurturing the university’s soon-to-be renowned creative writing program – a notable achievement at a time when few Canadian universities offered this specialization. Friends recalled McNamara’s tireless generosity with time, encouragement, and feedback to students and writers of all stripes. His passion and talent for teaching was recognized with a distinguished teaching award from the University of Windsor Alumni Association in 1994. McNamara retired from the University of Windsor in 1995, was immediately named a professor emeritus, and in 2000 was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Since 2008 the university’s Eugene McNamara Creative Writing Scholarship has honoured his contributions to the university.

With wife Margaret (m. 1952), McNamara had four sons and a daughter. Fellow local writer Marty Gervais considered him “a poet through and through,” given to quoting poetry over drinks at the Dominion House tavern. Known for his combination of erudition and accessibility, McNamara’s poetry has been described as warm, down-to-earth, hip, wry, tough-minded, wise, and occasionally funny. Between 1962 and 2012 he published some 23 collections of poetry, four short story collections, two novels, three non-fiction scholarly works, and an edited collection of Marshall McLuhan’s literary criticism. He also had a number of pieces anthologized in collections such as Best Canadian Stories and Best American Short Stories. The quality of his output was recognized with the City of Windsor Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Literary Arts in 1998. Family remembered him as having taken “great joy in the world and people around him” – a man who loved books, music, movies, art, antiques, cooking, travelling, dancing, teaching, family, friends, colleagues, and his adopted city of Windsor.

Sources: Chen, Dalson, “Former ‘Engine’ of Windsor’s Literary Scene Eugene McNamara Dies,” Windsor Star, 18 September 2016, https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/former-engine-of-windsors-literary-scene-eugene-mcnamara-dies ; RC0195 (Eugene McNamara fonds) description, McMaster University Archives & Research Collections, https://archives.mcmaster.ca/index.php/eugene-mcnamara-fonds ; Eugene McNamara obituary, Windsor Star, 19 September 2016, https://windsorstar.remembering.ca/obituary/eugene-mcnamara-1066455952 ; Dance, George G. “Eugene McNamara,” Penny’s Poetry Pages Wiki, https://pennyspoetry.fandom.com/wiki/Eugene_McNamara . (All accessed 18 March 2021).