Sally Pitts Kennedy Slocum

Sally Pitts Kennedy Slocum was born in Spartanburg, S.C., July 28, 1940 to the late W. Craig Kennedy and Emmie Pitts Kennedy. She retired as an Associate Professor of English with 30 years of service to The University of Akron in 1996, being named "Teacher of the Year." She graduated from Spartanburg H.S. in 1958, earned a BA from Columbia College (S. Carolina) in 1962 and an MA and Ph.D from the University of Tennessee in 1966. Her MSChat handle was PeachOp.

She arrived at The University of Akron in 1966 and immediately advocated for such novel notions at the time as equal treatment and pay for women (regardless of employment status), inclusion of women in all University functions, and collective bargaining rights for faculty and staff. She was a tireless advocate for reproductive rights and later pushed successfully for University sited and sponsored day care. Sally loved the English language in all its variety: poetry, short stories, novels, olde English, essays, and plays. She possessed the skill and patience to teach 30 years worth of students to write a grammatically correct English sentence. Her love of Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales knew no bounds, and she believed in her heart that King Arthur would indeed return in due time to save us from ourselves. She was instrumental in the creation of the Arthurian sections of the Popular Culture Association of America.

Diagnosed with MS in 1999, she helped initiate the MSOnline Chat forum and agitated for the creation of the MS water exercise class at the AGMC Health and Wellness Center. She was never fazed by the slings and arrows of fortune nor avarice nor mendacity nor chauvinism; she always responded with an apt reference to a line from The Bard or the Wife of Bath.

Preceded in death by her parents and infant son, James Joseph Slocum; she leaves to mourn her loss, her beloved partner/husband and soul mate of 42 years, Thomas A.; the loves of her life, grandson, Joseph; son, Andy and daughter-in-law, Samantha; brother, W. Craig Kennedy Jr. (Carol); nephews, Wilton (Bess), James (Mary), Raymond (Bridget); niece, Alicia Mathis (Dwight); mother-in-law, Marjorie Slocum (!); brother-in-law, Richard Slocum (Kathy); and sisters-in-law, Lynn Konarski (Mitchell) and Nancy Callahan(Timothy).

Her family wishes to recognize Dr. Lael Stone who informed Sally's MS affliction and Dr. H. Scott Awender whose skill and good humor made her losing battle with cancer bearable. Also, the angels of mercy at the VNS Hospice who eased her passing.

Per her request, cremation has taken place. A memorial service to honor her memory will be held 3 p.m. SUNDAY, February 17th at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85. Miller Rd. In lieu of flowers, it was Sally's wish that donations be made to the Sally K. Slocum Scholarship Fund at the University of Akron or MSOhio. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)