Peggy Moran

Peggy Moran May 18, 1920 to May 22, 2010 Peggy Moran, a retired Professor Emeritus of English at Purdue University Calumet, who served on the school’s faculty from 1965 to 1990, died on May 22, 2010 in Bloomington Indiana. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday. Peggy’s courage, sharp wit and indomitable intelligence were beloved by friends and family alike, and she will be greatly missed. Peggy considered herself a Chicagoan, a city she loved and knew well. Born on May 18, 1920 in Milwaukee, WI, the child of the late Verne O. McClurg and Shirley Mallette McClurg, Peggy grew up in a small bungalow on Chicago’s South Side in a family of seven children – the McClurgs of Avalon Park. She remained close to her family her entire life, and the numerous gatherings and songfests in that bungalow provided many a tale. Peggy attended Hirsch High School in Chicago, where her remarkable singing and acting skills were often on display. She attended the University of Michigan in the 1940’s but finished up her studies later with degrees from Roosevelt and DePaul Universities before beginning her teaching career. Following her love of a good story, she developed courses in the detective and spy genre and science fiction at Purdue where her focus was on popular culture. In addition, she developed courses in college level reading, and helped thousands of students to learn basic study and reading skills, to think and write clearly, and to understand and appreciate literature. She also served as the coordinator of the reading-skills program, and chaired and served on many faculty and college committees including the Council of Faculty Delegates. Peggy resigned from the classroom due to impaired vision as a result of macular degeneration; however she refused to let the fact that she was blind hamper her enjoyment of literature or live theater. She became very well known to Talking Books and to the reference librarians at the Monroe County Library, and was never found without her trusty tape player. Using recorded books, she became an expert on several eras of American history, including the Civil War, to the erudition and improvement of her family. With the assistance of a group of varied and intrepid friends, she continued to indulge her passion for live theater until the last year of her life. Peggy attended the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario continuously from 1965 to 2009 with various iterations of this friendship group. Their annual pilgrimage became the highlight of her year. Peggy had an unconquerable spirit, an unusual and eloquent mind and a loving heart. She adored her grandchildren, decorating her house in lively and unexpected ways, and all things Christmas. She was never afraid to speak her mind or champion an unpopular cause and was an inspiration to many. Peggy was preceded in death by her brothers Richard McClurg of Costa Mesa, CA and Jack McClurg of San Diego, CA. She is survived by her sisters Claire Edgar of Tucson AZ and Shirley Loper of Seattle WA, her brothers William McClurg of Hazel Crest, IL and David McClurg of Vallejo, CA, her children Jesse Singerman of Iowa City, IA, John Wiegand and Terry Moran Duffin of Bloomington, IN, and their spouses. In addition, she is survived by seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and dearly loved nieces, nephews and friends. Contributions in Peggy’s memory may be made to the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana. A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, June 26, 2010, 2pm at the Allen Funeral Home 4155 S. Old State Road 37 Bloomington, IN. Visitation will take place from 1-2pm prior to services at the funeral home. Allen Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.allenfuneralhome.org.

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Peggy Moran

May 18, 1920 - May 22, 2010