Roger James Stilling

Roger James Stilling died on May 6, 2024 in Boone, North Carolina at the age of 85.
 

            He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janie Parkins Stilling, the mother of his son Adam and his daughter Nora. He is survived by his wife, Glenn Ellen Starr Stilling; his son, Adam Stilling and Adam’s wife, Tammy; his daughter, Nora Stilling Pauley and Nora’s husband, Craig; his brother, Paul Stilling; his sister, Kathy Stilling; and his sister, Laura Maceyka. He is also survived by four grandchildren (Victoria Beyer, Samantha Stilling, Luke Stilling, and Sierra Pauley), two great-grandchildren (Easton Beyer and Carter Beyer), and many other family members, friends, and former colleagues.
 

            Roger was born in Manhattan, New York, and loved the opportunities he had over the years to revisit the city. He earned his B.A. from Elon College, his M.A. from University of South Carolina, and his Ph.D. from Trinity College, Dublin. He taught at Louisiana State University for five and a half years. Then he joined the English Department at Appalachian State University, where he taught from 1974 until his retirement. His teaching for advanced undergraduate and master’s students focused on Renaissance and seventeenth century literature (particularly Shakespeare, Renaissance drama, and Milton). For undergraduates, he taught literature survey courses, film studies, expository writing, and first year seminar. He spent nearly four decades teaching college students.
 

            Roger was deeply devoted to teaching. In his remarks at his retirement reception, he said, “I have been blessed to work with many outstanding students, from whom I have probably learned more than I have taught—particularly about teaching, because it is the honest responses of our students on a day by day basis that are our best guides to getting the job right.”
 

            Roger greatly enjoyed spending time with family, whether having a meal together, watching a movie or a sporting event, or on a family beach trip. He loved reading, books, and libraries (and served on several library committees at Appalachian State). His reading and film/TV interests included science fiction; crime and mysteries; and politics. He followed national and state politics closely. His sports interests included Panthers football, wresting, and the sports and athletics that his children and grandchildren were involved in. He loved relaxing at Oak Island, North Carolina, where he and Glenn Ellen vacationed every summer for over twenty years.
 

            Roger contributed journal articles, conference presentations, book reviews, and encyclopedia articles in several academic areas. He was especially proud of his book, Love and death in Renaissance tragedy (Louisiana State University Press, 1976), which can still be found in many libraries. He founded the Appalachian House in Washington, D.C., a house next door to the Folger Shakespeare Library which served for many years as a scholars’ residence for Appalachian State’s faculty and students. He was a Faculty Advocate with the Equity Office from 1997 through spring 2000. He was named to Appalachian State’s College of Arts and Sciences Academy of Outstanding Teachers. When he retired, the English Department granted him Emeritus Faculty Status.
 

            Roger requested that memorial donations be made to Fellowship Hall, 5140 Dunstan Rd., Greensboro, NC 27405 or to Appalachian State University Dept. of English f/b/o the Loyd Hilton Endowed Award for Excellence in English. Online condolences may be shared at the website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

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