Helene Moglen
1936 - 2018
Resident of Santa Cruz
Helene Moglen, Professor Emerita of Literature and Women's Studies, formerly Dean of Humanities and Arts at UCSC, died peacefully at her home in Santa Cruz, on October 18. She was 82 years old.
Helene was born in Brooklyn, second daughter of Edward L. and Edythe P. Rosenbaum. She earned her B.A. at Bryn Mawr College in 1957, married Sig Moglen, whom she met in eighth grade Latin class, and had her three sons---Eben, Damon, and Seth---while she finished her PhD. in English Literature at Yale. She began her teaching career at NYU in 1966, and in 1978 came to U.C. Santa Cruz as the first woman dean of any faculty in the U.C. system.
Helene was an influential second wave feminist scholar, and institution-builder at UCSC, at Kresge College---where she served as Provost for five years---and in the Santa Cruz community. After her husband's death in 2001, she met, loved, and lived in Santa Cruz with her heart's joy, Sheila Namir, a psychoanalyst, whom she married in 2016.
Helene's unique combination of rigor and warmth, political activism,commitment to community, and good humor leaves behind her an immense community of students, colleagues, mentees, and compatriots in Santa Cruz and across the nation. They have been inspired and empowered by her humane wisdom, passion for justice, and love of beauty. She is survived by her beloved spouse Sheila; her sister Glorya Hale of Albuquerque, New Mexico; her sons Eben, Damon and Seth; and her three grandchildren, Dylan, Pierre, and Morgan Moglen. Donations in honor of her memory will be gratefully received by the Center for Cultural Studies of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Oct. 28, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Helene Moglen

Sponsored by santacruzsentinel.com.

11 Entries

Ben Leeds Carson

July 1, 2024

[From Helene Moglen's Eulogy to the Kresge College Community, Nov. 1, 2018]

The deep and broad community of Kresge College has expressed so much sadness in these last few days, to say a very fond farewell to Professor Helene Moglen, who passed away on October 18. The debt we owe to Helene-a professor of Literature and Feminist Studies, Dean of Arts of Humanities, and Provost of Kresge College from 1978 to 1983-is great; not only for her foundational leadership, but in the many years since then, as her voice has returned, reliably, to remind us of who we are, and to help us build strengths in the present and future.

In her own testimony, and in that of former Campus Provost Robert Kliger, Provost Moglen was a tremendous force in moving Kresge-always an intense college, and sometimes a troubled one, with a complex and difficult early history-into a new era of openness, connection, and visibility to the larger world around us. And she cherished that work, deeply:

I loved being provost. It really was a way of working with young people very creatively ... around the edges of what was possible, and trying to resolve problems in informal ways that made a lot of sense. And at that time it was possible.

Helene gave generously of her time to those who asked. As I began as Provost three years ago, she urged me to work thoughtfully but collaboratively, and offered many gifts of experience in support of that; despite her already long service to this campus, she always wanted to give more. She recognized, to me, the 'storied' Kresge as a thriving center of the most visionary, the most verdant, the most thoughtfully radical, and Romantic commitments to everyday greatness. Yet she understood just as much that we are a place with vulnerabilities and unmet potentials-and happily, a place where the future opens seemingly beyond normal institutional limits.

Professor Moglen was a scholar of, among other things, writing-as-activism, and of conscious pedagogy. No wonder then, that she distinguished herself as a Provost, giving Kresge a forward edge of accountability and justice. In her tenure she persuaded both the American Studies and History of Consciousness programs to reside in our remote woods, and by all accounts, she transported Kresge´s rich aspirational tradition, intact, into a present world that could make sense to a whole, diverse community. A community in which power, with all its flaws and challenges, would at least be visible, open to criticism, and ready for meaningful influence by otherwise marginal voices.

Helene´s contributions to all of UCSC over many years-to the Cultural Studies Colloquium, to teachers´ and learners´ organizing efforts, and in support of public education-were full and vital. She was a scholar and writer of possibly unparalleled richness in our community; at the same time, to her conversations with so many of us, she brought the modest warmth and love of an ever-attentive and unassuming friend. She will be intensely missed, and yet her presence felt, by a community in which collaboration might still truly be possible. Thank you, Helene, for all you have brought to us.

Peace profound,
Ben Leeds Carson
Provost, Kresge College

Dawn Valadez (Dalton)

November 13, 2018

I am sad to hear about Professor Moglen's passing. I had her for 2 courses in the early 80's when I was an undergraduate in Women's Studies and Psychology. Her words ring out to me on a regular basis - she once said to me after reviewing an essay that I clearly slapped together - If you don't take yourself seriously Dawn, who will? I am grateful for the education and guidance I received from Helene Moglen. I know I am a much better reader and writer because of her. My condolences to her loved ones.

Yvonne Keller

November 3, 2018

Such a loss. Thank you for your sharp, kind, feminist presence at UCSC while I went through the History of Consciousness program there. I remember refinding the love of literature and of imaginative new ways to read in your class, and feeling your generosity of intellectual spirit everywhere.
Sending sympathy and love to all who love you, Yvonne

Brenda Shaughnessy

November 2, 2018

I am devastated to hear of Helene Moglen's death. She changed my life utterly, taught me how to read, really. She let me cry in her office when I was such a confused 21 year old, so uncertain of who I was and what my path might be. She was so kind, patient, and loving but she also challenged me--would not let me wallow, led me back to the pages again and again, diagnosed my sick papers, and believed in me. I am certain I became a writer in part because of her example, her mentorship, her huge heart and mind. I took as many classes with her as possible and still she so kindly let me take a graduate seminar and an independent study. She did NOT have to do that. I never forgot it. She took me seriously and taught me how to take myself seriously. It seems impossible that she is gone. I saw her last in 2013 and I assumed I'd see her again someday. I adored her and I'm brokenhearted.

John Isbister

October 31, 2018

She brought so much to the Santa Cruz campus: warmth, pizzazz, commitment, initiative, engagement, encouragement, excellence in every dimension. I was proud to be her friend. Our institution, and my life, would be poorer without her. My heart is with her, and with her friends, family and loved ones. John Isbister

Benjamin Carson (Provost, Kresge College)

October 30, 2018

The faculty and alumni community at Kresge College has expressed so much sadness in saying a very fond farewell to Helene Moglen. She was a tremendous force in this community, which owes her a debt not only for her foundational work as a Provost at a pivotal time in our history, but in the many years since then, in which her voice so frequently returned here, to remind us of our powerful history, and to help us build strengths in the present and future.

Ben Leeds Carson

October 30, 2018

Helene's contributions, over many years, to the Cultural Studies Colloquium, and to teachers' and learners' organizing efforts, in support of public education, were full and vital. She is a researcher and writer of possibly unparalleled value in our community; at the same time, to her conversations with admirers and acolytes, she brought the warmth and love of an ever-present and unassuming friend.

Regina Langhout

October 28, 2018

Helene was a kind, generous, dependable, and insightful person. She was always supportive of me and I knew I could turn to her for anything. She was also up for adventure, attending more than one meeting or event that I invited her to. I always appreciated her warmness, humor, and good mind. I will miss her.

Roberta Valdez

October 25, 2018

I stood on the brave, intelligent and strong shoulders of Helene, who advocated for and with women for a better world. Helene was instrumental in founding the UCSC Women's Center and locating the resource center at Cardiff House, "on the edge of campus...for a reason." I admired her greatly and was honored to carry on the education, support and development of women she and other campus and community women began in 1985, as a UCSC Women's Center Director (2000-2008). I am saddened to hear of her death. My heartfelt regards to all who love her.

Sheila Namir

October 24, 2018

She taught me know to live and now she has taught me how to die.
My heart is full of her, the love she so easily gave to so many, and the memories of our 17+ years together. I will love and miss her forever. May her memory be a blessing to all you know and loved her.

Jennifer Gonzalez

October 23, 2018

I will miss your exceptional spirit, Helene, and feminist commitment. Thank you for your generosity, your vision and your desire to change the world for the better.
Always in my thoughts,
Jennifer

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