Dr. Stanley Poss, a Fresno State professor emeritus of English, passed away on Dec. 14, 2023 in Fresno. He was 96.

A specialist in modernist literatures of the 19th and 20th centuries, Poss taught courses in literature and film at Fresno State from 1956 to 1995. He was a widely published scholar on literature, politics and culture, including essays in The Nation. He was a Fulbright professor in Cairo, Egypt, an exchange professor at multiple U.S. universities, and a longtime friend to multiple generations of students and faculty.

Chris Henson, professor emerita of English, said in all the years she knew Poss, he always had a new book to recommend, often multiple books. According to Henson, Poss stayed actively involved in campus activities, attending films, plays and lectures, always with a keen, analytical eye and sharp wit.

“Stan was full of intellectual curiosity, always pursuing new paths to knowledge,” she said.

Stanley Horn Poss was born in Pasadena, California, in 1927. His father was a highway engineer; his mother was a P.E. teacher. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands, a master’s degree from Claremont Graduate University and a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Washington. His doctoral dissertation was on the epic novel “Ulysses” by the Irish author James Joyce.

After retiring from Fresno State, Poss was a founding member of Fresno Filmworks, an all-volunteer nonprofit that screened independent films at the Tower Theatre from 2002 to 2020. Along with his wife, Joan, Poss was also a fixture at Fresno State’s CineCulture movie screenings on campus. He was active for decades in the local peace community, first joining anti-war protests on campus during the Civil Rights era, then for years joining street-corner rallies against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and demonstrations calling for a free Palestine.

Poss is survived by his wife, Joan Poss; sons David Poss and John Poss; and grandchildren Sara Poss and Ela Poss. A memorial service will be held in the future, date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the Fresno State English Department. Checks can be made to the Fresno State Foundation, with “English Department Scholarship” in the memo, and mailed to 5245 N. Backer Ave., PB98, Fresno, CA 93740. For questions about donations, call 559.278.1569.

Read an extended remembrance on the College of Arts and Humanities blog.