Frank Clancy Jr.

1944 - 2018

Over the weekend of July 21st, 2018, Frank Clancy Jr., long-time professor of English literature, frequent contributor to The Savannah Morning News and organizer of the annual Sebastian Dangerfield St. Patrick's Week Irish Literature Celebration, died of natural causes at his home in Richmond Hill, Georgia. He was 74.

Affectionately known by generations of students as "The Professor", Clancy joined the faculty at Armstrong State College in 1974. He specialized in Irish literature and taught passionately for forty years. He is remembered especially for his enthusiastic fostering of Irish Studies on campus and in Savannah. In 1987 he initiated his annual Sebastian Dangerfield Talk and Coffee Reception. Along with his "Bloomsday" lectures to celebrate the life of Irish writer James Joyce, these gatherings become some of Savannah's most celebrated Irish-themed events for over 27 years.

After attending programs on Irish literature in Dublin, in 1987 Clancy thought Armstrong State should do something to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. "I had an idea for an event that would highlight an Irish writer around St. Patrick's Day. Why not have St. Patrick's Day with an academic twist?" Clancy explained. Combining "the academic, the secular and the profane," the event was named after a character in J.P. Donleavy's novel, "The Ginger Man," about an American living in Dublin who is a charming rogue.

Each year, the Dangerfield Award was given to "the most outstanding Irish representative." Invariably, it was given in raucous fun, and not always to someone who was Irish - or even human. One year Clancy presented the award to University of Georgia mascot Uga, an English bulldog. "We gave Uga a doctorate in Irish literature," Clancy said. "The doctoral Diploma was awarded for scholarship on philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and his influence on the poetry of William Butler Yeats." Clancy arranged for picketers to stand outside to "protest" the outrage of an Irish award going to an Englishman. When Uga was brought onstage sporting a little green sweater, a student dressed as a Bobby appeared to arrest him. Clancy maintained that the canine recipient was "probably the most famous Englishman in America."

Another year, after Clancy spoke on James Joyce, he was challenged to recite the final pages of "Finnegan's Wake" from memory. A legend spread that Clancy went on to recite the final fifty pages. "That was literally impossible," Clancy admitted. "Five pages was about my limit."

While Savannah was his adopted home, Clancy grew up in Hamden, CT., graduating from Notre Dame High School, West Haven, CT. where he developed a lifelong passion for long distance running. Over the course of his life he ran in over 20 marathons, including the Boston Marathon on multiple occasions. He held undergraduate and graduate degrees in English Literature from Villanova University and was an avid fan of Villanova basketball.

He is survived by his sister, Katherine C. Conte of Bluffton, S.C. and brother, Robert J. Clancy (Candy) of Tubac, AZ., numerous nieces, nephews and grandnieces/nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Rosemary Edwards. A previous marriage ended in divorce.

A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.

"A way a line a last a loved a long the...riverrun..." (Finnegan's Wake)

Richmond Hill Funeral Home

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