In Memoriam

April 23, 2024 (Volume 47, Number 17)

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Roger Ellis, professor emeritus of theater

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

Linda Chown is pictured with her husband, Buck Hosman, who also taught English classes at GVSU.

Retired faculty member
Roger Ellis, professor emeritus of theater, died April 13, 2024. He was 80 years old.

Ellis joined Grand Valley's faculty in 1975 after working as an actor and director in California. He earned a doctoral degree in theater at the University of California, Berkeley.

At Grand Valley, Ellis introduced the Diversity in Theatre initiative in 1992 and co-founded the Shakespeare Festival in 1993. The festival is the oldest and largest event dedicated to Shakespeare in Michigan. Ellis retired in December 2020. He was featured in a 2020 video that celebrated Grand Valley's 60th anniversary. 

A celebration of life will be held on May 4, contact Allie Ellis ([email protected]) for additional details.

Retired faculty member
Linda Chown, retired professor of English, died April 3, 2024. She was 81.

Chown joined Grand Valley's faculty in 1989 and retired with emeritus status in 2008. 

Chown received the Barbara Jordan Award from Grand Valley's Women's Commission in 2001; she also earned a Fulbright Award to teach in Spain.

A celebration of life, held via Zoom, will be announced later.

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• View archived obituaries here.

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