Spara (1930 - 2011)
Walter F. Spara
1930-2011
Walter Francis Spara, retired professor of creative writing at Pensacola Junior College and co-founder of its literary journal, died Saturday, March 12, 2011, following a brief hospitalization. He was 80.
Spara taught English and creative writing for 34 years at PJC, now Pensacola State College. He was the first professor to teach PJC's new creative writing class in the mid-1980s and was a co-founder of its award-winning literary journal, Half Tones To Jubilee (now The Hurricane Review), in 1986.
Over the years the journal expanded to include contributions from professional writers nationwide as well as poetry and fiction from Spara's students. His work with Half Tones was one reason he was awarded the West Florida Literary Federation's first Heritage Award for Special Achievement in the Literary Arts in 1989.
Spara was born on June 10, 1930, in Buffalo, NY, and reared by his mother, Marie Cecilia Odorczyk Spara, in Lackawanna, NY. As an infant, he lost his father (his namesake) to an automobile accident.
He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Canisius College in Buffalo and served in the Army, including time at Fort Benning, GA, before moving to Pensacola and accepting a job at PJC in 1966.
He retired from teaching in 2000.
Survivors include his aunt, Charlotte C. O'Dorcy, and cousins, Bernard J. Kolber and James A. Kolber, all of Buffalo; and Robert T. Michaels of Tampa, FL.
Visitation will be held 5-8pm Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., with rosary to be prayed at 5:00pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00am Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1616 N. 12th Ave., with Msgr. Michael Reed celebrant.
A Funeral Mass will also take place in Buffalo, NY with burial next to his mother in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Walter's name to The Hurricane Review, Pensacola State College Foundation, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504.
HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on March 17, 2011
Walter F. Spara
1930-2011
Walter Francis Spara, retired professor of creative writing at Pensacola Junior College and co-founder of its literary journal, died Saturday, March 12, 2011, following a brief hospitalization. He was 80.
Spara taught English and creative writing for 34 years at PJC, now Pensacola State College. He was the first professor to teach PJC's new creative writing class in the mid-1980s and was a co-founder of its award-winning literary journal, Half Tones To Jubilee (now The Hurricane Review), in 1986.
Over the years the journal expanded to include contributions from professional writers nationwide as well as poetry and fiction from Spara's students. His work with Half Tones was one reason he was awarded the West Florida Literary Federation's first Heritage Award for Special Achievement in the Literary Arts in 1989.
Spara was born on June 10, 1930, in Buffalo, NY, and reared by his mother, Marie Cecilia Odorczyk Spara, in Lackawanna, NY. As an infant, he lost his father (his namesake) to an automobile accident.
He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Canisius College in Buffalo and served in the Army, including time at Fort Benning, GA, before moving to Pensacola and accepting a job at PJC in 1966.
He retired from teaching in 2000.
Survivors include his aunt, Charlotte C. O'Dorcy, and cousins, Bernard J. Kolber and James A. Kolber, all of Buffalo; and Robert T. Michaels of Tampa, FL.
Visitation will be held 5-8pm Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., with rosary to be prayed at 5:00pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00am Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1616 N. 12th Ave., with Msgr. Michael Reed celebrant.
A Funeral Mass will also take place in Buffalo, NY with burial next to his mother in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Walter's name to The Hurricane Review, Pensacola State College Foundation, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504.
HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on March 17, 2011
Spara (1930 - 2011)
Walter F. Spara
1930-2011
Walter Francis Spara, retired professor of creative writing at Pensacola Junior College and co-founder of its literary journal, died Saturday, March 12, 2011, following a brief hospitalization. He was 80.
Spara taught English and creative writing for 34 years at PJC, now Pensacola State College. He was the first professor to teach PJC's new creative writing class in the mid-1980s and was a co-founder of its award-winning literary journal, Half Tones To Jubilee (now The Hurricane Review), in 1986.
Over the years the journal expanded to include contributions from professional writers nationwide as well as poetry and fiction from Spara's students. His work with Half Tones was one reason he was awarded the West Florida Literary Federation's first Heritage Award for Special Achievement in the Literary Arts in 1989.
Spara was born on June 10, 1930, in Buffalo, NY, and reared by his mother, Marie Cecilia Odorczyk Spara, in Lackawanna, NY. As an infant, he lost his father (his namesake) to an automobile accident.
He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Canisius College in Buffalo and served in the Army, including time at Fort Benning, GA, before moving to Pensacola and accepting a job at PJC in 1966.
He retired from teaching in 2000.
Survivors include his aunt, Charlotte C. O'Dorcy, and cousins, Bernard J. Kolber and James A. Kolber, all of Buffalo; and Robert T. Michaels of Tampa, FL.
Visitation will be held 5-8pm Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., with rosary to be prayed at 5:00pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00am Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1616 N. 12th Ave., with Msgr. Michael Reed celebrant.
A Funeral Mass will also take place in Buffalo, NY with burial next to his mother in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Walter's name to The Hurricane Review, Pensacola State College Foundation, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504.
HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on March 17, 2011
Walter F. Spara
1930-2011
Walter Francis Spara, retired professor of creative writing at Pensacola Junior College and co-founder of its literary journal, died Saturday, March 12, 2011, following a brief hospitalization. He was 80.
Spara taught English and creative writing for 34 years at PJC, now Pensacola State College. He was the first professor to teach PJC's new creative writing class in the mid-1980s and was a co-founder of its award-winning literary journal, Half Tones To Jubilee (now The Hurricane Review), in 1986.
Over the years the journal expanded to include contributions from professional writers nationwide as well as poetry and fiction from Spara's students. His work with Half Tones was one reason he was awarded the West Florida Literary Federation's first Heritage Award for Special Achievement in the Literary Arts in 1989.
Spara was born on June 10, 1930, in Buffalo, NY, and reared by his mother, Marie Cecilia Odorczyk Spara, in Lackawanna, NY. As an infant, he lost his father (his namesake) to an automobile accident.
He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Canisius College in Buffalo and served in the Army, including time at Fort Benning, GA, before moving to Pensacola and accepting a job at PJC in 1966.
He retired from teaching in 2000.
Survivors include his aunt, Charlotte C. O'Dorcy, and cousins, Bernard J. Kolber and James A. Kolber, all of Buffalo; and Robert T. Michaels of Tampa, FL.
Visitation will be held 5-8pm Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., with rosary to be prayed at 5:00pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00am Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1616 N. 12th Ave., with Msgr. Michael Reed celebrant.
A Funeral Mass will also take place in Buffalo, NY with burial next to his mother in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Walter's name to The Hurricane Review, Pensacola State College Foundation, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504.
HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.
Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on March 17, 2011
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