NameCRISPIN, John
Birth Date1936
Birth PlaceTienen, Belguim
OccupationUniversity Professor
Death Date14 May 2014 Age: 78
Death PlaceNashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Misc. Notes
Vanderbilt University professor emeritus John Crispin died May 14 after a short illness.
Born in 1936 in Tienen, Belgium, he joined his brother André (1923-2012) in Houston in 1954 where he earned a BA from St.Thomas University. After completing a PhD at the University of Wisconsin, he joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1964 where he taught Spanish literature and chaired the Spanish and Portuguese Department for 18 years. Recognized internationally as an expert in Spanish 19th and 20th century literature and intellectual history, he published many articles and books and lectured widely in the US and Europe.
John loved all kinds of music, from the Beatles to classical. He performed with a recorder group and enjoyed playing his guitar and singing traditional French and Spanish songs.
He loved books and travel, spoke four languages, was a gourmet cook and a wine connoisseur.
He tutored at Nashville Adult Literacy Council and read for the blind. He loved his garden at Backbone Inn in Beersheba.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalie Adams; daughters, Melissa (Jules) of Philadelphia and Mary (Joe) of Hilton Head, SC; brother, Arthur of Grasse, France; grandchildren, Gabrielle, May, Joey, Sophia and Garrett and his beloved Basset Hound, Clio.