College Mourns Loss of Arts and Sciences Dean
Memorial service to be held February 21 in Christ the King Chapel
Buffalo, NY – A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 21 at 5:15 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel for Dr. James P. McDermott, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Canisius and an expert on Indian Buddhist thought and ethics. McDermott died unexpectedly at his home on February 2, 2002. He was 59 years old.
“Dr. McDermott was an outstanding dean, an excellent teacher and a true scholar,” said Dr. Herbert Nelson, vice-president for academic affairs at Canisius College. “Known as a historian with an eye to the future, Jim was a leader among the faculty in utilizing computer and multimedia technology in his teachings and research. He will be missed.”
McDermott earned his BA from Wesleyan, MDiv from Yale and PhD from Princeton. He came to Canisius in 1977 as an assistant professor from Bowdoin College and quickly rose through the ranks to full professor of religion in 1985. He served as acting chair of the Religious Studies Department from 1986-1987, then as chair from 1987-1996.
McDermott taught classes in Buddhism, Hinduism, Zen and other Eastern religions. His scholarship on Indian Buddhist thought and ethics included a volume, Development in the Early Buddhist Concept of Kamma/Karma (New Delhi, 1984), 26 journal articles or chapters and more than 100 book reviews relating to Eastern religions.
McDermott held fellowships, grants and honors from Yale, Princeton, the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the New York Council for the Humanities, Canisius College and Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for Jesuit colleges and universities.
He was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. McDermott is survived by his wife, Alice Coffman McDermott, and their two children, Lisa and Kevin.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made in Dr. McDermott’s name to Salem United Church of Christ at the address above.
“Dr. McDermott was an outstanding dean, an excellent teacher and a true scholar,” said Dr. Herbert Nelson, vice-president for academic affairs at Canisius College. “Known as a historian with an eye to the future, Jim was a leader among the faculty in utilizing computer and multimedia technology in his teachings and research. He will be missed.”
McDermott earned his BA from Wesleyan, MDiv from Yale and PhD from Princeton. He came to Canisius in 1977 as an assistant professor from Bowdoin College and quickly rose through the ranks to full professor of religion in 1985. He served as acting chair of the Religious Studies Department from 1986-1987, then as chair from 1987-1996.
McDermott taught classes in Buddhism, Hinduism, Zen and other Eastern religions. His scholarship on Indian Buddhist thought and ethics included a volume, Development in the Early Buddhist Concept of Kamma/Karma (New Delhi, 1984), 26 journal articles or chapters and more than 100 book reviews relating to Eastern religions.
McDermott held fellowships, grants and honors from Yale, Princeton, the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the New York Council for the Humanities, Canisius College and Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for Jesuit colleges and universities.
He was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. McDermott is survived by his wife, Alice Coffman McDermott, and their two children, Lisa and Kevin.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made in Dr. McDermott’s name to Salem United Church of Christ at the address above.