Donald E. Glover
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English Donald Ellsworth Glover died Aug. 18, 2020, from Alzheimer’s disease.
His entire teaching career was at the University of Mary Washington, where he was chair of the Department of English for three years and later served as director of the program for graduate studies. He helped to establish the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, which was designed for nontraditional students. He was honored with the 1976 Grellet C. Simpson Award in recognition of excellence in undergraduate teaching.
Glover was born in Rochester, New York, and attended public schools in Falls Church, Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1955 from the College of William & Mary and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
He and his wife, Alice W. Glover, were Fulbright Scholars for 15 months at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. He entered graduate studies at the University of Virginia in 1957 and received a Ph.D. in English in 1964. During a sabbatical at Oxford, England, in 1973, he wrote a book on the fantasy works of C. S. Lewis titled C.S. Lewis: The Art of Enchantment.
He was a longtime member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, serving as a member of the vestry, junior warden, teacher, and in the outreach program.
He is survived by his wife, four children, six grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
The family asks that memorials take the form of contributions to Trinity Episcopal Church outreach, 825 College Ave., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
Dr. Glover was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, influences on my intellectual life. I am so glad to have learned from him. He challenged and inspired in equal measure, and helped me and others to discover that we had more in ourselves than we had ever realized. May he rest in peace.
Sorry to read of the passing of Dr. Glover. A student of his in the 1980s, I remember he invited our entire class to his home for a party. He was the quintessential professor, backpack and all. He is remembered fondly. My condolences.
So sad to hear Dr. Glover has passed. He was my advisor back in 1975. My condolences to his family.
Don Glover was my professor, mentor, and friend in the late 1980’s at Mary Washington. I took him for four classes, including courses in Fantasy Literature and C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. He inspired a passion for fantasy and Tolkien, which I retain to this day and continue to teach Fantasy literature and Tolkien in various courses at Harper College of Palatine, IL. He will very much be missed. May he rest in peace.