Nicholas Canaday Jr. ’50

Nick died July 4, 2003, after a full life in academia and social action.

At Princeton, Nick majored in English, was on The Tiger editorial board, won the Class of 1922 Poetry Prize, and belonged to Cloister Inn. After Army service for two years and a short teaching stint, he earned master's and doctoral degrees in English at the U. of Florida. He went on to Louisiana State U., where he taught for 30 years and authored numerous scholarly works.

Active in the 1960s civil rights struggle, he was investigated by the Louisiana Joint House/Senate Un-American Activities Committee and declared "not a Communist." The LSU Library has his civil rights-era papers in a special collection.

In 1987, following his third Fulbright Senior Lectureship appointment, Nick retired to Seattle. There he volunteered at Seattle's largest homeless shelter, was active in the outreach programs of St. Mark's Cathedral and served on its vestry, and taught at Edmonds Community College.

Nick, an avid reader, also was an enthusiastic low-stakes blackjack player who for 10 years traveled quarterly to Reno.

To his wife of 51 years, Amelia; children Thomas, Nicholas III and Ellen; a grandson; brother Arthur '54; and a sister, goes our sympathy.

The Class of 1950