David Espey

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~despey

David Baldwin Espey

November 20, 1940 — April 19, 2024

David Baldwin Espey, aged 83, passed away on April 19th, 2024 at home in Bala Cynwyd PA. He was born on November 20th,1940, in Elmira NY to Jack and Mary Espey.

David graduated from Hamilton College and later went on to get his master’s at Johns Hopkins and his PHD in English at the University of Michigan.

David spent two years in Morocco as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the early 1960's, which gave him a deep appreciation of other cultures and perspectives and nurtured a love of teaching. The highlight of his career was as Director of the Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught for twenty-eight years. David received Fulbright senior fellowships to teach in Morocco, Turkey, and Japan.

David loved traveling, hiking, reading, and gardening. He cared deeply about issues like literacy, poverty, and international health. He contributed his time and resources to various non-profit organizations, including serving as a board member of the Eastern Service Workers in Philadelphia.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Molly Tobin Espey, children Daniel J. Espey and Claire Tobin Espey, sisters Libby Reider and Margaret Iaconelli and brother John Espey, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer. Donations can be made to the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania (https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/giving)

Please share memories and condolences at www.https://www.donohuefuneralhome.com/obituaries/david-espey

Publications

Awards

2006 CGS and LPS Awards for Distinguished Teaching - Affiliated Faculty

Courses Taught

summer 2016

ENGL 461.940 Orwell and Hemingway

summer 2015

ENGL 068.950 London Theatre

summer 2013

ENGL 051.950 Victorians in Literature and Film

summer 2012

ENGL 068.950 London Theatre

summer 2011

ENGL 051.950 Victorians in Literature and Film

ENGL 101.950 George Orwell canceled

summer 2010

ENGL 061.950 London in Fiction and Film

ENGL 101.950 George Orwell

ENGL 261.950 London in Fiction and Film

fall 2009

ENGL 461.640 Orwell and Hemingway

summer 2009

ENGL 061.950 London in Fiction and Film

summer 2007

ENGL 292.910 Road Books, Road Movies

spring 2007

ENGL 248.001 Orwell and Hemingway

ENGL 292.601 International Novel and Film

fall 2006

ENGL 286.301 American Travelers

ENGL 292.601 Road Books, Road Movies

spring 2006

ENGL 248.301 Orwell and Hemingway

ENGL 292.602 International Novel and Film

ENGL 299.309 English Honors Thesis

fall 2005

ENGL 261.301 Seductions of Empire

summer 2005

ENGL 292.910 Hollywood and the American Novel

spring 2005

ENGL 040.601 Major British Poets, 1660-PRESENT

ENGL 299.310 Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh

fall 2004

ENGL 040.002 British Poetry 1660-1914

ENGL 292.601 Topics in Film Studies: Hollywood and the American Novel

ENGL 299.305 Modern British Novel

summer 2004

ENGL 061.950 The British Novel in London

ENGL 068.950 London Theatre Experience

ENGL 103.950 The Short Story canceled

spring 2004

ENGL 260.301 Orwell and Hemingway

fall 2003

ENGL 084.001 Modern American Literature 1900-1945

summer 2003

ENGL 040.950 Major British Poets, 1660-1940

ENGL 103.950 The Short Story

spring 2003

ENGL 360.301 A Modernist Tour of the Mediterranean

fall 2002

ENGL 135.601 Creative Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 286.301 American Travelers

spring 2002

ENGL 286.601 American War & Travel Writing: Vietnam

fall 2001

ENGL 135.301 Creat. Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 299.601 Major British Poets

summer 2001

ENGL 040.950 Major British Poets, 1660-1940

ENGL 103.950 British Short Story

summer 2000

ENGL 199.900 Non Fiction Writing

fall 1999

ENGL 135.301 Creative Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 286.301 Topics in American Literature

spring 1999

ENGL 286.301 Topics in American Literature

ENGL 299.312 Truth and Fiction in Literary True Crime

fall 1998

ENGL 135.301 Creative Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 286.601 American Travelers

summer 1998

ENGL 199.311 Independent Study

spring 1998

ENGL 135.302 Creative Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 199.305 Independent Study

fall 1997

ENGL 199.312 The Media and Politics of Retail

ENGL 286.401 Topics in American Literature

spring 1997

ENGL 135.301 Creative Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 275.601 Orwell and Hemingway

fall 1996

ENGL 275.302 Orwell and Hemingway

ENGL 299.317 Independent Study

summer 1996

ENGL 067.920 London in Literature: Insiders and Outsiders

spring 1996

ENGL 135.601 Creative Non-Fiction Writing

ENGL 199.305 Fiction Writing

fall 1995

ENGL 265.301 Postcolonial British Novel

summer 1995

ENGL 084.910 Modern American Literature 1900-1945

fall 1994

ENGL 084.601 American Literature 1900-1945