James C.G. Conniff

Professor Conniff was my writing teacher at St. Peter's College (now university) in the spring semester of 1969. He was the best teacher I had in my years at the college. He was very demanding but very fair in his criticism and I learned much from him. It was a pleasure and an honor to have known him.

Professor Conniff was my writing instructor at St. Peter's College in the spring semester of 1970. He was the best teacher I had and taught me much about the craft of writing. While I did not develop into a professional writer the lessons he taught me and the discipline I acquired have served me well in my life. I have much to be thankful. I would like to tell his daughter Sue, who was a student at St. Peter's how much I appreciated his guidance and inspiration.

I am at a loss for words to adequately describe the sadness that I feel for the loss of a dear friend. James Conniff tirelessly and lovingly challenged his students to rise beyond their potential. I am grateful every day for the lessons my mentor provided. He was a spiritual man, with deep respect for all human life. "Hold fast to dreams; For if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."

Prof. Conniff was my writing teacher at St. Peter's in the late 1960's. He was probably the best teacher I had. He not only taught me good writing but also how to think. He was tough but fair and it helped me immensely later on. I was part of the innaugral year of Operation Teach Prose (Operation TeePee) in 1966 and was taught how to write prose that would grab one's attention and not be burdened by too many grammatical rules. On student orientation day before my freshman year, his...

Jim Conniff was an amazing teacher. I too had him as my journalism professor at St. Peter's College. Although I eagerly looked forward to his classes each week, there was also some trepidation as to how he would react to my writing assignments, given his proclivity for leaving an occasional "turgid" comment in the margin. Being in his class was an excellent experience for a budding writer. He was a master of his craft and an inspiration to me as well as to all of his students. Farewell to a...

Jim Conniff was my journalism professor at St. Peter's College. We stayed in touch after I graduated, and he's the one who encouraged me to write my first novel. He sent me a bunch of how-to writing books, and always believed in me. After sending him something I'd written, he called me and said 'you're gonna make it, kid.' I never forgot that. I've had 14 novels published, and owe much to him--he whipped my writing into shape with his red marker and made sure I got over my 'slobhood.' There...

Jim Conniff was my journalism professor at St. Peter's College from 1980 to 1984. I credit him largely with helping me gain admission to Columbia University's prestigious Graduate School of Journalism. I counted him not only a mentor, but a true friend. He launched the writing careers of hundreds, my own included. As a writing teacher now myself, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't drill one of his writing mantras into the heads of my students. I still use in my classroom now some of...

Among Professor Conniff's students was the late John McGowan who became a top political writer on the Newark Evening News, USA Today and the Asbury Park Press. As a young photographer on the Newark News, I had the honor to shoot the photos for a magazine story which John did on his teacher. I recall photographing student papers with all the terse remarks in the margins.
He was warm and compassionate. May he rest in peace.

Jim Lowney
Toms River

I did not know James but he sounds like he was such a beautiful person.