George Burton Perkins

Perkins, George B. 8/16/1930 - 4/10/2022 Ann Arbor Dr. George B. Perkins of Ann Arbor, Michigan, age 91, passed away Sunday morning. He was a Professor of English at Eastern Michigan University, where he taught American Literature from 1967 to 2001. He was a Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities at the University of Edinburgh, an Associate Editor of Narrative, and a member of the Modern Language Association and the Southeast Michigan Fulbright Association, as well as a founding member of the Society for the Study of Narrative Literature, which issues an annual award named for him and his wife. With his wife, Barbara, he was the co-editor of several editions of American Tradition in Literature, one of the best-selling American Literature textbooks of all time. ATIL has been credited for expanding the canon of America Literature by including a diverse array of writers: people of color, indigenous, and enslaved people, immigrants, women who weren't published in their lifetimes, and contemporary writers. He is also the author or editor of several other books, including a novel, a memoir, and various textbooks. Born and raised in Burlington, Massachusetts, he sold magazines to pay for his way to earning his bachelor's degree from Tufts and went on to earn an M.A. from Duke, and Ph.D. from Cornell. At Burlington High he lettered in baseball and basketball. He was a lifetime Red Sox fan and played senior basketball into his 80s. In both his professional and personal lives, he was a world traveler. He was a guest lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, the University of Newcastle in Australia, and also in France and China. With his wife and daughters, he traveled to Great Britain, Europe, Australia, China, and across the United States. With his wife, Barbara, he sailed around the world on the QE2. He enjoyed annual vacations on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with his family. George is survived by his wife, Barbara, his three daughters, Laura, Suzanne, and Alison, his son-in-law Jason, and his four grandchildren, Aidan and Eliza Perkins-Hart, and Noah and Samuel Perkins-Cohen. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, April 14, at The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, 608 E. William Street. Remote participants can access the service by logging in online beginning at 10:50 am at https://www.fccannarbor.org/online-worship/. Please join the Perkins family for a light reception following the service. Parking is available in a surface lot accessible off Thompson Street between Jefferson and William Streets. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Arbor Hospice (arborhospice.org) or Eastern Michigan University (emugiverise.com). George was ever the optimist, and had a wry sense of humor. Even during his battle with Alzheimer's, he wanted people to know that "I'm not in bad shape for the shape I'm in." We will miss you, Papa!Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.muehligannarbor.com for the Perkins family.