Comments for In Celebration of His Life & Work

Comment on You Are Home Now by Anne Panning

Anne Panning — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:41:15 +0000

Phil was so important to me as a young writer. It was his phone call to me to let me know I was accepted into the MFA program as BGSU that made me want to go there. I still joke with my students sometimes about something he used to say about occasional stories that would come through workshop: “Send it to the New Yorker!” He had a good heart that way–passionate belief in his students. I am so sad to hear about his passing.

Comment on You Are Home Now by Howard McCord

Howard McCord — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:33:21 +0000

It is hard to imagine that Phil is dead. He seemed so solid and permanent. He picked me up at the Toledo Airport in June of 1971 when I came to be interviewed for the Director’s job. And for the next twenty-nine years I saw him several times a week when the university was in session.He could always be depended on to defend the Creative Writing Program from all attacks and slights, and his loyalty to his students was unmatched. We shared more than most people knew–failed first marriages and very happy second marriages, with wonderful children from both. Phil wrote wonderful and original books which rightly received great praise. He had a vision which encompassed the complexity of human relationships and the nuances of style required to
express it. He was a master of prose.

He was a dear friend to me, and to my wife Jennifer, and we will miss him greatly. Our condolences to his children and to his wife, Martha.

Howard McCord

Comment on You Are Home Now by Zalman (Stewart) Lachman

Zalman (Stewart) Lachman — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:30:58 +0000

O Phil. A poet, I never had a class with you. We just spent time once in a while, and the talks were always genuine and warming. My personally inscribed copy of Stealing Home is well worn. I never steal home, though I admit to stealing lines. Is that license or justice? The empty space in the dusty corner of my consciousness where you used to live. Goodbye, Phil.

Zalman (Stewart) Lachman
MFA Poetry ‘76

Comment on You Are Home Now by Bill R. Leaver

Bill R. Leaver — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:28:15 +0000

I remember the first class I took with Professor O’Connor. It was formative, it not only structured my literary style and voice, but my life. The lessons learned translate from the classroom to the boardroom over and over again. Thank You!