University mourns death of Robert Waugh, professor emeritus of English

It is with sadness that SUNY New Paltz shares the news that Robert Waugh, who taught as a faculty member in the Department of English for more than four decades, died on April 13, 2024, at the age of 81.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 19, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Paltz, with Pastor Allison Moore officiating.

A family obituary with Tribute Wall can be viewed at this link.

Waugh, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, came to New Paltz in 1968 after earning his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Harvard University.

He taught a wide range of subjects in the English Department, from Greek and Roman epics to the novels of James Joyce, leading up to his retirement in 2010 (he continued to teach occasionally as an adjunct until 2016). Waugh had a special interest in science fiction and horror, and among his many publications were several critical works on H. P. Lovecraft. He ran a Lovecraft Forum at New Paltz for many years, and that event attracted a number of well-known scholars from around the world.

“His colleagues admired his wide-ranging erudition and passion, his good cheer in a crisis, and the generous and patient mentorship he extended to students and faculty alike,” said Vicki Tromanhauser, associate professor and chair of the English Department.

Waugh brought a memorable degree of creativity to his work as well. He was widely published as a poet and fiction writer, and in social settings was known for raising his voice in song.

“Bob’s laugh was in many ways his signature: full-throated, genuine, hearty, and unrestrained—just like his beloved live performances of ‘Peggy Sue,’ made famous by Buddy Holly and made another degree of amazing by Bob,” said longtime English Department colleague Tom Olsen.

Waugh is survived by his wife Katharine, their son Rowan, daughter-in-law Dena, and sister Caroline.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Paltz. Waugh was active with St. Andrew’s for many years.