Dr. Peter James Stanlis

1919 - 2011

Dr. Peter James Stanlis, 91, Distinguished Professor of Humanities Emeritus of Rockford College, died peacefully in his sleep in his Rockford, Illinois, home on July 18, 2011. He was born on August 12, 1919, to Lithuanian immigrant parents in Newark, NJ. His education included graduation from Nutley (NJ) High School in 1937, a 1942 B.A. from Middlebury College (VT), an M.A. from Middlebury's Bread Loaf Graduate School of English, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1951. Rockford College awarded him an Honorary Ph.D. in Humanities after his retirement.
Dr. Stanlis was the world's authority on the British statesman Edmund Burke, having written more publications about Burke than anyone living or dead. In addition, he wrote several books and many articles about his friend and mentor, the poet Robert Frost. Dr. Stanlis lectured at prestigious academic gatherings both in the U.S. and abroad, and translations of his works have appeared in Swedish, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. His two most influential books are "Edmund Burke and the Natural Law" now in its fifth edition and "Robert Frost: The Poet as Philosopher."
He served as President Reagan's appointee for six years on The National Endowment for the Humanities beginning in 1982. In 1987 he was appointed a British Academy Research Fellow.
He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Rotary, the Board of the Rockford Institute, Advisor to The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal (located in Mecosta, MI), founding member of The American Society for the 18th Century Studies, Distinguished Member of The Philadelphia Society, member of The Caxton Club of Chicago, co-founder of The Robert Frost Stone House Museum near Bennington, VT and its Friends of Frost; member of the Conference of British Studies, perennial member of the Frost Scholars Annual Gatherings, etc.
His wife, Eleanor Stanlis (eminent violinist and founder of The Rockford Music Academy) and his daughter Ellie preceded him in death. Survivors include his daughter Ingrid (Paul Donnelly); stepchildren Margaret Batjer McNeeley (Joel), Dr. Hunt Batjer (Janet), and Peter Batjer (Colleen); and Professor Emeritus Joan Surrey Clark.
Memorial Mass 1 p.m. Monday, August 1, 2011, at Holy Family Catholic Church 4401 Highcrest Road. Inurnment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Rockford Music Academy Foundation, P.O. Box 6333, Rockford, IL 61125 or Holy Family School, 4407 Highcrest Road, Rockford, IL 61107. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.