Joseph B. Trahern

Joe Trahern, Jr. passed away January 10, 2023 at Shannondale of Maryville after a lengthy illness.
He was born on February 20, 1937, in Clarksville, Tennessee, the son of Margaret Fort Trahern and Joseph B. Trahern. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his beloved wife of 50 years, Marjorie Elizabeth Hawkins Trahern. He is survived by his beloved wife, Peggy Gates; a daughter, Sarah Margaret Trahern (Wayne Flatt) of Nashville; a son, Joseph B. Trahern, III of Alexandria, Virginia; a granddaughter, Quinn Trahern-Davis; stepchildren and step grandchildren; and several cousins. He held B.A. and M.A. degrees from Vanderbilt University, M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University, and was a Fulbright scholar at Worchester College, Oxford University. He taught for 15 years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before coming to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1978. At Tennessee, he was Head of the Department of English from 1978-88, served in several campus level administrative positions including acting vice-chancellor for academic affairs and retired in 2004 as Alumni Distinguished Professor of English. Joe was named Macebearer at UT's Graduation in 1999, the University's highest faculty honor. His teaching specialties included Old and Middle English Language and Literature, Chaucer, and Shakespeare. His research interests centered on Old English religious poetry and the Latin learned tradition. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, The Modern Language Association, and the Medieval Academy of America. He was a member of the Advisory Council of the Princeton University Department of English for 25 years and served for several years as Chair of that body. He served on and chaired a number of national book award committees, including the Haskins Medal Committee of the Medieval Academy of America and the Christian Gauss Prize Committee of Phi Beta Kappa. He was a member of Church Street United Methodist Church and served at various times on the Board of Directors of Jubilee Community Arts, the Executive Committee of the Friends of the University of Tennessee Library, the Board of the Knox County Library Foundation, the Advisory Board of the Clarence Brown Theater, the Foundation Board of Austin Peay State University, the Board of Directors of the Marble City Opera, and the advisory board of the University of Tennessee Department of English.
Joe's passions included music from classical to bluegrass. A true dog-lover, Joe was rarely without devoted (often worshipful) canine companionship.
His laugh and love of laughter was his trademark to his many friends; some might even say the worse the joke, the more glee he took in telling it.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Joe's honor be made to the
UTFI Marjorie Trahern Opera Endowment ATTN Chris Cox
137 Alumni Memorial Building
1408 Middle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
or to the
Trahern Fund at Austin Peay State University
PO Box 4417
Clarksville, TN 37044
A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 27, 2023 Rose Funeral and Cremation with the Rev. Catherine Nance officiating; the family will receive friends following the service. The family will also receive friends Thursday, January 26 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Rose Funeral and Cremation. Inurnment will take place Saturday, January 28, 11:00 a.m. CST, Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville Tn.
On-line condolences may be extended at www.rosefuneraltn.com