Joan C. Grace, Ph.D., associate professor emerita of English and a member of Fordham’s faculty since 1950, died on Oct. 11. She was 88.

Grace was a scholar of 17th-century literature and author of Tragic Theory in the Critical Works of Thomas Rymer, John Dennis, and John Dryden (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1975). Grace received a bachelor of arts degree from Trinity College in Washington D.C., and master of arts and doctoral degrees in English literature from Columbia University.

For many years Grace taught English on Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus alongside her brother, William J. Grace, Ph.D., late professor emeritus of English, who retired in 1979.

In 1990, Grace received the Bene Merenti medal for 40 years of service to the University. She retired a few years later.

“She was very loyal to the school,” said nephew William J. Grace, FCRH ’77, LAW ’81, “and she was part of a large Fordham family as well.” He said his aunt was proud of the fact that he and his five siblings are all graduates of Fordham.

Services for Grace will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Church of Notre Dame Parish, 405 West 114th Street, New York. Letters of condolence may be sent to Grace & Grace, 360 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.