Christopher Healy

Christopher Healy's Obituary, as Written by Himself (died August 21, 2024). As a young professor, I thought it might be an interesting assignment to ask students to imagine their hopes, plans, and dreams by writing their own obituary. This writing assignment did indeed reveal their hopes and desires for their own lives. However, I neglected to write my own obituary as my students wrote theirs. Even though much time has passed, I would now like to rectify my error: "After working multiple jobs both in and outside of academia over the course of several years, Christopher Healy successfully defended his dissertation on the medieval writer Thomas Hoccleve and earned his Ph.D. in English literature from Louisiana State University in 2002. Following this, he worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, specializing in Middle English language and literature, as well as Linguistics. Even though working as a professor involved various responsibilities, Chris felt that his work in the classroom was the most meaningful, a way to share his love of the English language and fascination with medieval literature. But he also enjoyed engaging with colleagues, whether through shared professional duties or collegial conversations or personal interactions. Working at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was his joy. That joy was cut short for him after 59 years on this Earth, also ending a 34-year struggle with multiple sclerosis. Chris Healy leaves behind his wife, Monica, someone he called the best, most profound part of his life. He said she healed his heart and strengthened and supported him, no matter what. She was the person he was always looking for: someone with whom he could be himself, someone to whom he could cling in good times and bad. A gift. Chris was fortunate to have also been gifted in life with his parents, Betty and Jerry, who gave everything they had to give their entire lives, supporting him and his endeavors. He always believed that the man he became and aspired to be was the direct result of how these two individuals lived their lives: examples of integrity and strength, but also people who found joy in their love for each other and their family and friends and their hometown, New Orleans. Also in the family's household-and another important influence-was Chris's Grandma Casso, a second mother who gave him unfailing love and support. He cherished her, and he cherished his siblings: Kathy, Nancy, and Denny. As an adult, Chris realized that they put up with a lot from their baby brother, but they showed patience and gave back so much love in return. As his siblings' families grew over the years, Chris was part of the love they shared. He leaves behind in-laws he loved as siblings and friends. And he loved his niece and nephews as if they were his own children, watching their journeys to adulthood as they found spouses and partners and began to create their own families. As a witness to the course of their lives, he was incredibly proud of them all and said, 'I have great hopes for them and their future.' In addition, Chris leaves behind his mother-in-law, Barbara, who lived with him and Monica during the final years of his life, someone who loved him as a son and offered what help she could as multiple sclerosis ravaged his body. Both Chris and Monica were profoundly aware that without her presence, love, and care, they likely would not have had as much success confronting the challenges his disease presented. Together, they were a close-knit family of three who looked out for one another. Yet with his mother-in-law also came an extended family whom Chris loved: his sisters-in-law, their spouses, children, and grandchildren. He valued them all, as well as their love and support. Finally, Chris wanted his colleagues in the Department of English and the College of Liberal Arts at ULL to know how much he enjoyed their camaraderie and how grateful he was for their support and belief in him. He cherished the memories and the many friends he made during his 20-plus years at the University. When his demise became imminent, Chris informed friends and colleagues in the English Department that because of his beliefs, there would be no funeral. Instead, he wanted a small memorial with his family in New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to help eradicate this terrible disease more quickly. And given the degree of rancor in the world, he hoped that those seeking to honor his memory would simply be kind to one another." After finishing this exercise, I realize that it was not as much fun as I thought it would be, but it is done. I hope that the audience will be gentle when reading this; I wrote it while on my deathbed.