- Date Of Birth: December 24, 1926
- Date Of Death: March 9, 2008
- State: Illinois
William Edward Brady IV, 85 S. Seminary St., Galesburg, Illinois, passed away on March 9 at the age of 81. He was born on December 24, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of William E. Brady III and Alice Quinby Brady. Bill is survived by his wife, Sydney, his two daughters, Elizabeth Cimino (and Paul), Austin, Texas, Mary Catherine “Zoe” Brady, Eugene Oregon, and his son William Edward Brady V, Chicago, Illinois.
Also, surviving are his sister, Mary Ramsbotham, Cumberland Center, Maine, his three grandchildren (Andrew and Emma Cimino and Sarah Sopher), his great-granddaughter (Camellia Sopher-Cardiel), his uncle, Frank Quinby, Victoria, B.C., Canada, and many nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Newark Academy, Newark, NJ in 1942, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy, finishing with an honorable discharge in August 1946. He completed his undergraduate education at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY where he also taught for two years. Later he served his Alma Mater with distinction as Alumnus Trustee, from 1966 to 1971, and as a class correspondent for 10 years. For these and numerous other services to the college, he was awarded an Alumni Association Citation for exceptional and distinguished service to Hobart and the Association. Bill received his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from Brown University, Providence, RI, and taught there during his years as a graduate student. He spent a year at Corpus Christi College, Oxford while completing his dissertation. He then moved to the College of the University of Chicago as Assistant Professor where he taught from 1957 to 1962. He also participated in the 1971 summer program at Colorado College as a lecturer in art. Bill’s primary career, however, was at Knox College in Galesburg, IL where he taught from 1962 until he retired in 1995. During those years his principal focus was on the works of William Shakespeare for which many generations of students remember him with admiration and affection. Additionally, he taught English and American literature, Renaissance literature and occasionally philosophy, history, the murder mystery genre, and other more esoteric topics. During his years at Knox Bill Chaired the Publications, Personnel, Executive, and Curriculum Committees and was twice Chairman of the English Department. From 1984 to 1987 he served as Faculty Secretary. For these and numerous other services, he was honored with the Knox College Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award in 1988. This prize is granted for superior scholarship and excellence in classroom teaching. Bill loved his family wholeheartedly and took the utmost delight in its unity. He worked hard at getting his wife and children together as often as possible for fun, contact, and cheer.
Furthermore, he was a steadfast optimist with a wonderful sense of humor and a passion for life. Among many other activities, he loved to travel and enjoy the rich cultures, histories, and cuisines of the places where he and Syd visited together. His favorite pastime, however, was reading. He spent much of his time engaged with books of all kinds, usually several at a time. In fact, his great fondness for reading was ultimately reflected in his final words, “The New York Times.”
