OT: Angus Gillespie

[hoquat63]

RU prof will be featured on PBS Marvels show about Holland Tunnel. 8PM Tuesday.

 

[RU4Real]

I didn't even know he was still around. He was co-author, many years ago, of a book about the NJ Turnpike. When I was at RU I interviewed him as a source for a term paper I wrote about the Pine Barrens. Great guy and a genuine New Jersey treasure.

 

[hoquat63]

He spoke at a luncheon for RU retirees a few years back - gave out free copies of his book, Twin Towers about the building of the WTC. Interesting speaker.

 

[S.W.A.I.N]

Had him for multiple classes...he and Michael Rockland both stars of that department. Good guy, glad he is still doing his thing.

 

[rurichdog]

I picked a random elective freshman year, to fill out my schedule. It was one of Gillespie's courses. Sophomore year I made sure to select another one of his classes out of pure enjoyment of his lectures.

It was very comforting to me to see him on television interviews right after 9-11. About as apolitical yet fully knowledgeable a source as you could get on the subject, with the right balance of passion and Mister Rogers in his delivery.

 

[e5fdny]

Great central casting name for a professor.

And as mentioned, Rockland and him were some act.

 

[RutHut]

I didn't even know he was still around. He was co-author, many years ago, of a book about the NJ Turnpike. When I was at RU I interviewed him as a source for a term paper I wrote about the Pine Barrens. Great guy and a genuine New Jersey treasure.

Did your paper include a paragraph about the jersey devil, or piney power., or was it more ecology based? What class did this guy teach?

 

[RU4Real]

Did your paper include a paragraph about the jersey devil, or piney power., or was it more ecology based? What class did this guy teach?

I don't remember what class he taught, I didn't actually take any of his classes.

My paper, as I recall (it was 30 years ago) was much more focused on Pinelands ecology, for which I used John McPhee's book "Pine Barrens" as core material. There was a fair bit of folklore in it as well, since I was really trying to pay homage to McPhee's style, which is very much "science and history through anthropology".

 

[ClassOf02]

Took his Jerseyana class based on nothing other than it seemed pretty interesting, fit into my schedule, and credits counted towards what I needed. Ended up being one of my lasting RU memories. Great professor!

 

[leonh71]

Did your paper include a paragraph about the jersey devil, or piney power., or was it more ecology based? What class did this guy teach?

I took "American Folk Songs & Ballads" with him. He was in the American Studies department, if I remember correctly. It was a great class and he seemed like a good guy.

I read it decades ago, but I enjoyed "Looking for America on the NJ Turnpike".

 

[BoroKnight]

He's one of the reasons I wish I could have a do-over on electives. It never occurred to me to take an American Studies class. His "Looking for America on the New Jersey Turnpike" is a terrific book and a very easy read. Makes you appreciate the road's place in history and what it symbolizes about post-war culture. And it was fun, too.
McPhee's book is an NJ classic. Wish more people in the state would take an interest in such work.