Dr. Michael Shugrue, who died on December 1, 2010, was born in Chicago on July 28, 1934. His family moved to Lincoln, NE in 1950. He graduated from the University of Nebraska and received his PhD from Duke University with a specialty in British literature of the 18th century.
After teaching at the University of Illinois, he came to the Modern Language Association in New York, where he administered grants under the United States Defense Education Act and performed other administrative functions. He next taught at New York University and then served as administrative assistant to the president of The City College.
When Dr. Edmond Volpe left The City College to become President of Richmond College in 1974 he brought Dr. Shugrue with him to serve as Dean of the Faculty. When Richmond College merged with Staten Island Community College in 1976 he continued as Dean of the College of Staten Island. In 1978 Dr. Shugrue stepped down as Dean to join the Department of English. He served with distinction as the first director of the department’s Master of Arts program in English, advising students, helping them prepare their master’s papers, setting examinations, and, above all, mentoring them. Several generations of students benefited from his care and encouragement.
Recognizing his vast contributions, the College of Staten Island awarded him an honorary degree, Doctor of Letters, in 2008.
Dr. Shugrue published on 18th-century literature and professional issues. In addition, his freshman text, The Conscious Reader, is about to appear in its 12th edition.
He has been a generous benefactor to the College of Staten Island, establishing the Robert E. Jackson Scholarship and the Shugrue Family Fund in memory of his brother. He also established the Shugrue Cultural Development Fund, which has brought a series of concerts to CSI, to the delight of the College and the wider Staten Island communities. An avid listener himself, and a patron of the New York Philharmonic, he was eager to share with others the pleasures that he personally experienced. His three cherished philanthropic projects were the College of Staten Island, the New York Philharmonic, and St. Joseph’s Church.
CSI President Dr. Tomás D. Morales stated, “Dr. Michael Shugrue will be remembered for his deep and abiding devotion to higher education and the arts, to The City University of New York, and in particular to the College of Staten Island.”
Dr. Shugrue is survived by two sisters and one brother: Mary (of Kabul, Afghanistan), Catherine (of Windsor, CO), and Richard (of Prescott Valley, AZ), their spouses, numerous nieces and nephews, and many loving friends.
A funeral mass for Dr. Shugrue will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church (364 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10011) on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 10:00am, with a reception to follow.
Contributions in Dr. Michael Shugrue’s memory may be made to either the Shugrue Family Fund or the Shugrue Cultural Development Fund (send to The College of Staten Island Foundation, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Building 1A, Room 401, Staten Island, NY 10314), the New York Philharmonic (send to Major and Planned Gifts, Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023), or to St. Joseph’s Church.
