*Born March 8, 1928 in New York City, Joseph Patrick Clancy held his Ph.D. from Fordham University, and is Marymount Manhattan College’s Emeritus Professor of English Literature and Theatre Arts.
A Fellow of the English Language Section of Yr Academi Gymreig, and an Honorary Fellow of Aberystwyth University, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of Wales for his work as poet and translator.
Dr Clancy began his career in translation with The Odes and Epodes of Horace in 1960, a work which is still in print and used by students of Latin worldwide.
Family legend has it that, upon reading an English translation of a medieval Welsh poem, Joseph decided he could do better and proceeded to teach himself the language. He received numerous grants to study in Wales. In 1972 he embarked on a year long sabbatical in Aberystwyth along with his wife, Gertrude (Gerrie), five of their eight children and his mother.
In 1990, after retiring from teaching, he and Gerrie made Aberystwyth their home for more than 20 years.
Through the years he forged friendships with several prominent Welsh writers, translating their work and making contemporary Welsh poetry and drama accessible to the English reader.
A renowned author in his own right, Joseph published four volumes of poetry, books of essays and short stories, a non-fiction work on King Arthur for teens, and co-authored a mystery novel with Gerrie.
Joseph P. Clancy died on February 27, 2017 in Glasgow. He is survived by his 8 children, 15 grandchildren and as of 2023, 15 great grandchildren.
A Fellow of the English Language Section of Yr Academi Gymreig, and an Honorary Fellow of Aberystwyth University, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of Wales for his work as poet and translator.
Dr Clancy began his career in translation with The Odes and Epodes of Horace in 1960, a work which is still in print and used by students of Latin worldwide.
Family legend has it that, upon reading an English translation of a medieval Welsh poem, Joseph decided he could do better and proceeded to teach himself the language. He received numerous grants to study in Wales. In 1972 he embarked on a year long sabbatical in Aberystwyth along with his wife, Gertrude (Gerrie), five of their eight children and his mother.
In 1990, after retiring from teaching, he and Gerrie made Aberystwyth their home for more than 20 years.
Through the years he forged friendships with several prominent Welsh writers, translating their work and making contemporary Welsh poetry and drama accessible to the English reader.
A renowned author in his own right, Joseph published four volumes of poetry, books of essays and short stories, a non-fiction work on King Arthur for teens, and co-authored a mystery novel with Gerrie.
Joseph P. Clancy died on February 27, 2017 in Glasgow. He is survived by his 8 children, 15 grandchildren and as of 2023, 15 great grandchildren.