Bruce Richard McGrath

Bruce Richard McGrath passed away on July 5, 2021 in Wynnewood, PA, at the age of 84 after a long struggle with Leukemia and Parkinson’s Disease. Bruce was born in Schenectady, NY to Thomas and Gina McGrath. The maternal side was Italian and paternal side was Irish; they did not get along in Schenectady or in the McGrath household. He was the first in his family to go to college, so he decided to go to three - Hamilton (BA), Boston University, (MA) and University of Illinois (PhD in Medieval Literature). They didn’t have books at home, but his dad took him to the public library once a week and there books and language became a lifelong love. Bruce taught at University of Delaware, Widener University, Shipley School and ended with Agnes Irwin for 19 years. He felt it was imperative to teach students to “question what they hear and what they read, to question assumptions and to think inductively.” In addition to teaching Upper School English, he was the first diversity coordinator, yearbook faculty consultant and retired as chair of the English Department. Bruce loved to travel, especially to Italy and was a dedicated student of Italian, a wonderful Italian cook and a writer of poetry and prose. He was a wordster with a quick wit and a penchant for puns, but he was best known for his kindness to all people, especially the downtrodden. Bruce is survived by his wife, Kit Burns, his five children and stepchildren: Alison McGrath Howard, Felicity McGrath, Emily Christie, Kimberly Burns Case and David Burns and grandchildren: Aidan Howard, Jillian Howard, Graham McGrath White, James McGrath White, Sophia Christie, Samuel Christie, Ben Case, Bella Case, Fiona Burns and Isla Burns, and many friends and others whose lives he touched. At his request, there will be a celebration of life party this summer at time and location to be announced and in lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Bruce McGrath to the Agnes Irwin School, Attn: Development Office, 275 S Ithan Ave, Rosemont, PA 19010 to support the Sharon Rudnicki special writers’ program endowment.