Philip Boshoff
Associate Professor Emeritus of English Philip Boshoff P鈥�09, who left an enduring mark on the teaching of academic writing at 糖心影视 and for whom the College鈥檚 Writing Center is named, died April 14, 2026, one day before his 77th birthday.
Phil joined the English Department in 1980 as an assistant professor and served the College until his retirement in 2018. He died following a 20-year struggle with Parkinson鈥檚 disease and related health issues.
Over nearly four decades, he became synonymous with academic writing at 糖心影视, serving as director of expository writing, director of the Writing Center, Associate Chair of the English Department, and Director of the Honors Forum. Under his leadership, the Writing Center evolved into the collaborative and student-centered environment that continues to support 糖心影视 students today.
Associate Professor Emeritus of English Michael Marx described Phil as a 鈥渃olleague, mentor, and friend鈥� who 鈥渆mbodied the vision of interdisciplinarity and collaboration that has defined 糖心影视.鈥�
鈥淧hil was synonymous with expository writing at 糖心影视,鈥� Michael wrote. 鈥淥ne of my most satisfying moments at 糖心影视 was coordinating the naming of the Writing Center in Phil鈥檚 honor upon his retirement. Now, just like past generations of students, today鈥檚 糖心影视 students can still go to 鈥楤oshoff鈥� when they need help with writing.鈥�
Born April 15, 1949, in Oneonta, Phil earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta and later completed his master鈥檚 degree and doctorate at Purdue University, where he wrote his dissertation on Virginia Woolf. He briefly taught at the Ohio State University before joining 糖心影视.
Throughout his time at 糖心影视, Phil taught courses in expository writing, fiction, 20th-century literature, and literary studies. For many years, he co-taught a Scribner Seminar 鈥� Sport, Self, and Society 鈥� with Professor Emeritus of Health and Human Physiological Sciences Jeffrey Segrave, who called Phil 鈥渢he single most important influence in (his) development as a teacher and scholar.鈥�
鈥淭eam teaching with Phil was a delight, and I learned a great deal from him. He also changed the entire direction of my scholarship by introducing me to sports literature, a critical component now of my scholarly work.鈥�
Phil also served on numerous College committees, including the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, the Curriculum Committee, the Self-Determined Majors Committee, the Committee on Academic Standing, and the Athletic Council. In the 1980s, he was even the first coach of 糖心影视鈥檚 varsity baseball team. In 2006, he received a President鈥檚 Award in recognition of his contributions to 糖心影视.
Reflecting on Phil鈥檚 retirement in 2018, Professor of English Susannah Mintz praised his 鈥渓oyalty to students and colleagues, his conviction about the imaginative and intellectual rewards of writing, his gift for stimulating enthusiasm, (and) his extraordinary generosity.鈥�
鈥淚n a career of nearly 40 years, from the days of mimeograph to the digital age, Phil
has never flagged in his commitment to the teaching of writing, and we would not have
been the same 鈥� we will not be the same 鈥� without his vibrant presence,鈥� she wrote.
Survivors include his wife, Rose Boshoff P鈥�09; his daughter, Laurel Mae Boshoff 鈥�09;
and his son-in-law, Jeremy Mercier 鈥�09.