Stanley Ray Gillespie

Stan Gillespie, long time teacher at McCallie School, passed away in Atlanta on July 9th from a brief illness. He was 73 years old. Stan was a graduate of the University of Georgia with a master’s degree in literature that he earned in 1965. He entered the profession of teaching at the Riverside Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, where he taught before coming to the McCallie School in 1968. Stan taught English at McCallie School from 1968 to 1985 when he left to become an instructor at Pace Academy of Atlanta. While at McCallie, he served as Chairman of the English Department, founded the Lyceum, a literary speakers program, and established an elective course studying the works of William Faulkner. He was honored as “Distinguished Teacher” of the year at both McCallie School and Pace Academy. After ending his formal teaching career, he continued to teach courses on various authors at Emory University’s continuing education program. Stan’s passion for literature and teaching was immense. He challenged his students to explore the depths of various literary forms despite the possible difficulties of the text at hand. His classes were characterized by dramatic readings of the assigned works which helped his students reach past the surface to the mysteries that lay beneath. His love for literature found its most eloquent expression in the novels of William Faulkner which he inspired generations of students to appreciate. Although he has left the world physically, his presence will remain with the hundreds of students who benefited from his teaching and all those who were fortunate enough to enjoy his friendship. Stan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Dodie, his daughter Amy Silverstein, his son-in-law Steven, and his two grand daughters Carly and Sydney. He is also survived by his mother Catherine Alton, stepfather Neal Alton, and his brother Garry Gillespie. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Morningside Baptist Church, 1700 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30324 on Sunday, July 20th at 4:00PM, the family will receive friends from 2:00-3:45Pm prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you honor Stan by donating to the Library Fund at Pace Academy, 966 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327.