William J. McCann

It seems extra poignant to remember Mr. McCann today, St. Patrick's Day. He introduced me to Yeats and other poets and I will never forget him. Or, for that matter, the great eraser plot of 1968

Although 32 years have past since I sat in Mr. Mc Cann's Honors English Class at LJHS, I can still see him sitting at the front of the classroom in his sweater. I can still hear his voice. "Old Mr. Mc Cann's" classroom was a welcoming, enlightening, inspiring haven where we were introduced to the giants of literature. He taught us with humor, passion, "innocence and experience..." There will never be another Mr. Mc Cann. He did so much more than prepare us well for our future education. ...

So many familliar names in this guest book, all the same story! Mr.McCann introduced me to William Butler Yeats and encouraged me to write...Mr. McCann was wonderful, I can't remember anyone ever complaining about him or his class, the only teacher I can think of about whom that is true. Mr McCann's spirit will live on, in all of us, and in our children who have been taught by their parents to love reading and writing.

Learning of Bill McCann's death takes me back to my 9th grade English class at St Augustine High in 54/55. I had little to say in class but thought this was the very best teacher I had that year. I'll nver forget his playfulness...one day I was walking along shops on Broadway and heard this loud "Shamus...what are you doing down here"...and realized that he knew me as a person, not just a back row student. I went on to major in English at USD and had a great Air Force career thanks largely...

How much we all will miss Mr. McCann! He taught all three of us Hu kids: Dale (class of 1979), Rona (class of 1981), and Alan (class of 1985). We especially loved his sense of humor: sometimes at his own expense, joking that he was "half-Donne" because he had 6 children and John Donne had 12. He introduced us to Donne, T.S. Eliot, W.B. Yeats, and William Blake (who can forget him reciting "Tyger, Tyger" in his distinctive Philly accent?) Even when he threw someone out of class for...

My deepest sympathies to Mr. McCann's family. I will always remember Mr. McCann for his love of poetry. I feel fortunate to have been in his class my junior and senior years.

I echo my sister Susan's words of condolence to Mary Alice and all the McCann family. Bill's presence in our family's life has been deep and pervasive. His friendship with our dad always impressed me...I had never before (and seldom since) seen two grown men appreciate one another so much.

Bill gave me a slim volume of Leo Tolstoy's "What Men Live By" and it remains one of my favorite possessions. We will miss you Bill. Thanks for everything.

Love, Ann Muilenburg...

Mr. McCann was one of my favorite teachers. I think of the literature he shared with us often. Thank you Mr. McCann!
MaryJane Tucker Martinez

I was saddened to hear about Mr. Mc Cann. He was one of my favorite teachers when I was at La Jolla High. He was a teacher that influenced me greatly.
Barbara Riis-Allen