Memories of Albert "Al" Glover

After his retirement I found great joy in connecting with Al on the course. It wasn't so much that I played with him, rather we would just discuss how are games were going, mine usually quite poorly, and whatever else was on our minds. I will miss those simple conversations with one of the nicest people I have ever known.  Brian Chezum, Economics

My heart is heavy with the news of Al Glover's passing. He served as University Marshal for several years, with exemplary care, kindness, and consideration for our traditions and the people who created the events and the people who celebrated. I felt honored to partner with him on many occasions. He brought optimism to every meeting and respect for all, always. Sincerest condolences to Patricia and all who loved Al.  Lisa M. Cania, Retired VP for Community and Employee Relations & Secretary of the Corporation

 I only know Albert Glover through Peter and Fran Bailey. And yet I feel that I know him well enough to mourn his loss with all of you who are closer--on the ground--to losing a treasured colleague, friend, and family member. i mourn his loss as a Professor of English at SLU par excellence, as a poet whose work I hope to read sooner or later, and as a dear friend of Peter and Fran Bailey.   Lucretia Bailey Yaghjian, sister of Emeritus Professor Peter Bailey

We shared a mutual feeling for the value of the library and the importance of the written word. So nice to have known you and worked with you, Albert. You knew your craft and you knew great teaching at our level. It was fun to serve with you on the Friends of ODY and Launders Libraries when the libraries actually had Friends! You knew, and cared for, this faculty as well. My best to the family. Rest peacefully my friend. Mark  J. Mark Erickson, Geology

Paul Simon wrote a song called “You Can Call Me Al” and in the Great Depression song “Buddy Can You Spare a Dime” the lyric included the verse “Say, don’t you remember? They Called Me ‘Al ‘it was ‘Al’ All the time. Not so much with Albert Glover. To me and other colleagues it was not Al but Albert. Sometimes I would casually call him “Bert” or try a French pronunciation of Albert. But never Al. There was a time when he was in high school he indicated that he was called “Mike”. It seemed a little unlikely but then I was called “Butch” in high school so, go figure. Of course he was also Dr. Glover when he needed to be. 
I met Albert in 1968 at a party thrown by a visiting professor of German. The party was in a second story apartment on Pine Street. We were both new to St. Lawrence and our first conversation revealed that we spoke the same language and had contemporary art and poetry in common. We knew or knew of some of the same people. We shared an interest in Black Mountain College and the impact it had on American art and American arts education. That first meeting led to a life-long friendship in which we became neighbors, collaborators, and most recently retired professors who enjoyed walking in the fieldhouse at St. Lawrence. Those walks were a form of exercise but mostly served as an opportunity for conversation.
So yes, I called him Albert but I sincerely called him a friend.  Guy Berard, Fine Arts

I was an English major when Albert first appeared on campus in a cape and a staff with crow’s feather (I believe that the crow was Albert’s totem). My first semester with Dr. Glover—in a course entitled “John Donne”—he read a complete doctoral dissertation by Carlos Castenada which later became the well-known work “Teachings of Don Juan: a Yaqui way of Knowledge.” As word got around campus, the class was standing room only. It was a very, very different time. Dr. Glover showed many of us a different way to look at school and life. He was an absolutely unique teacher and influenced me then and now in ways I’m really unable to express. I fondly remember times at various farm houses with Al (and Guy) and a group of former classmates—friends and students of Al, many who have sadly passed away. Also wonderful evenings at Connie Barr’s. In later years we often stayed in touch at the Women’s hockey games. (Albert was a standout school boy hockey player in the Boston area—which he demonstrated at the traditional Faculty-Staff hockey game).

It was a very, very different time.  Bob FritzRandolph '70, Bookstore Director (1976-2013)