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Paul Sporn Obituary
Paul Sporn, a Marxist English Professor who started out as a factory worker and labor organizer, died on February 27 in New York at 85. Born in New York, he migrated to Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago and finally back to New York. He was an activist and a scholar for nearly 60 years. During WWII he joined the Air Force to fight fascism, serving in North Africa and Europe. After the War, he met and married Josephine Levine, an artist, who was his best friend and love of his life for 54 years, until her death in 2004. Paul Sporn saw capitalism as an unjust system that bred poverty and racism. These views led him to join the Communist Party as a young man, and later to help found the Progressive Labor Party. He gained national news attention in 1964 when he defiantly challenged the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in Buffalo. Sporn stated that the Congressional Committee was an illegal body because some of its members came from states where African American citizens were denied the vote. For his vocal opposition to HUAC, Sporn was fired from his job at the University of Buffalo under New York's Feinberg Law, which banned teachers who were members of organizations deemed subversive. Paul Sporn was resilient; he completed his Ph.D. at Buffalo, obtained a faculty position at Wayne State University in Detroit and continued his activism and scholarship. In the 1960s and '70s, he spoke out against the Vietnam War and co-founded the International Committee Against Racism. In addition to poetry and numerous essays, in 1995 he published a book entitled Against Itself: The Federal Theater and Writers' Project in the Midwest, the result of many years of tedious research. Paul Sporn loved literature, travel, good food, and lively conversation, but most of all, he loved people. Some of those he loved most are family members who honor and celebrate his life: his son, Peter Sporn; daughter-in-law, Barbara Ransby; daughter, Pamela Sporn; son-in-law, Pablo Foster; grandchildren, Jason and Asha Ransby-Sporn and Lelanie Foster; an aunt, Blanche Winikoff; as well as many other relatives and friends. His wit, wisdom, good humor and indomitable humanity will be sorely missed. A celebration of Paul's life will be held March 17 at 4 p.m. at The Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St., New York City. Contributions in Paul's name can be made to North Star Fund in New York City or Crossroads Fund in Chicago.
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Memories and Condolences
for Paul Sporn
Sponsored by Bin Li, a student.
Richard Goranowski
April 29, 2009
Dr. Sporn after reading my undergraduate paper in 1971 at Wayne on the similarity of Peacock’s ‘Four Ages of Poetry’ to Frye’s ‘theory of modes,’ marginally responded, “You’re clearly correct. But you’ll never get this published.” Frye himself responded by airmail to my paper sent from my London squat where I produced readings for the London Poetry Secretariat in 1973, “Ahh, but I never said there was no connexion between myself and Peacock.” Frye’s duplicitous negation was unfortunately lost in my international transition but my original paper is identifiable from Frye’s correspondence file. Dr. Sporn's confirmation was recently seconded:
“The Vico-ized progressions of Frye’s theory of fictional modes (from mythical to ironic) … re-worked Peacock’s “Four Ages of Poetry” and the three elevations of style for modern criticism,” by JAMES C. NOHRNBERG, ‘The Master of the Myth of Literature: An Interpenetrative Ogdoad for Northrop Frye’ (on-line at http://complit.dukejournals.org/cgi/reprint/53/1/58).
Anyone who'd like to read a copy of my paper in response can contact me at [email protected]. I'd like to get permission to dedicate it to Dr. Sporn if I can get it published.
David Robinson
April 13, 2008
In researching Pam's great work in film on the internet, I am just learning that her father, Paul Sporn had passed on my birthday (Feb. 27) in 2007. I am reading about this remarkable man whose daughter, Pam attended middle school with me in Michigan and played in the orchestra together in the cello section. I am sure that I have seen Professor Sporn at some of our concerts. I must praise him on the upbringing of his children, especially Pam who is doing great work in cultural diversity awareness through film and education.
Sylvia Pollock
December 12, 2007
I am sorry to learn that Paul Sporn has died. We at the Charles Pollock Archives have had occasion -- more than once -- to be grateful to him for his excellent interview with my late husband Charles Pollock and all the information he gathered concerning that period of United States history.
Bin Li
September 16, 2007
I am extremely shocked by the fact that Paul has left us. Is he the same Paul Sporn that I know? I regret so much that I did not try to contact him and Jo earlier and more often. I regret that I did not get a chance to bit him farewell when he left us.
Today, after finishing drafting a motion, Paul and Jo's images filled up my mind. I dug out my old phone book and found the phone number for Paul in his Chicago home. The phone line was disconnected. I had a bad feeling, and started to google on line and found the bad news that he left us on February 27, 2007 in New York.
I first met him when he was teaching in Fudan University as a Fulbright Scholar in Shanghai China. I was fortunately assigned by the university as his Chinese translator for him. We quickly became great friends, and family member. He treated me as his Chinese son. We toured lots of places in China together.
Paul is my mentor. He introduced me to New York writer EL Doctorow, and many other contemporary writers. In addition, his sense of humor, positive attitude, and his integrity as a human being has impressed me so much, and has influenced me in the past and will continue to influence me for the rest of my life.
Paul is also my American Father. It was him who introduced me to Howard Burman, who brought me to the US to study theatre arts. He invited me to visit him during the winter vacations. When I went to law school, he and Jo constantly called to ask about my study.
It was after I graduated from Law School, when my career was shifting from media production to law practice, and when my personal life was undergoing some radical changes, I have been lagging behind in contacting them. I feel so guilty. This is what I will report to you: I did not fail your expectation, my legal business is taking off rapidly. My firm has right now five attorneys working together. I won a jury trial for a business transaction fraud case for $8 million for my client last year. I just won an arbitration case for my client for $2 million last week. Paul, I wish that you can hear me and share my little success in career.
Shakespeare, in his play, had a famous line: "parting is such a sweet sorrow." Although in different context, I believe that this line is appropriate here. Although you parted from us and we hate to let you go, you left me and many others with so many sweet moments to cherish. You are still alive in the memories and hearts of many family members and friends.
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Paul Greenspoon
August 12, 2007
I had Paul Sporn as an instructor in freshman English at the University of Buffalo. My education came not from the class he taught but rather from his experiences with HUAC. Although I disagree with many of his opinions, seeing someone you know and respect persecuted for their beliefs left a lasting impression on me. I give my sympathy to his family.
Noah Bardach
March 23, 2007
My deep condolences...every fighter must eventually hang their gloves.
I am a doctoral candidate in the Department of Art History and Critical Theory at the University of Essex, England. I've recently been given a 35mm film strip that Paul worked on in the late 40s or early 50s in collaboration with the New York Council of Art, Science and Profession. Is there anyone out there who could tell me about Paul's work with the NY Council or about this filmstrip? I would be greatly endebted.
Many thanks and with sympathy, Noah
Maha Jarad
March 20, 2007
Dear Sporn Family and all those who loved and respected Paul Sporn,
I have just now finished reading Paul's obituary and feel sadened that I never met this remarkable, talented and dedicated man. I am certain his love for justice will continue with all those who knew and loved him.
F Fooshik
March 6, 2007
I don't believe I've ever met this comrade, but I am no doubt a product of his struggle and will carry it on so long as I live. Chi-town red
Michelle Materre
March 6, 2007
As a friend and colleague of Paul's daughter, Pamela, I only had the pleasure of meeting Professor Sporn once upon the occasion of his granddaughter Leilani's graduation from high school. He was an amazingly brilliant and generous mentor to many, and will be truly missed as the same.
Allen Cholger
March 4, 2007
I remember Paul as a mentor for those of us in SDS at Wayne State, in the '60's. Most of us found ways to get arrested, for joining Paul in his fight against Capital... I was no exception. Locked up, for days in Detroit, and subjected to the terror of being held incommunicado, it sure was a relief to see Paul's smiling face. He had pursuaded the Detroit Police Department that hwe was a Lawyer, representing us... Boldness and more boldness... I have not seen Paul since, but, have kept track through mutual friends in Detroit and New York.
I hope this memory brings comfort, and a smile to those who are grieving his loss.
Solidarity.
Al
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