Obituary for John Richard Pfeiffer
PFEIFFER, JOHN RICHARD, age 84, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully Sunday, April 30, 2023, at his home.
John was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 11, 1938, the eldest child of George and Clara (Slawienski) Pfeiffer. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School of Royal Oak in 1956 where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. John earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit in 1956 in English, Philosophy and Latin and then a master’s degree in English in 1963 also from University of Detroit. He continued his studies at the University of Kentucky, earning his PhD in English and Modern German Literature in 1967. John served his country in the U.S. Air Force ROTC while in college and then served at the Air Force Academy at the rank of Captain as an English professor from 1967-1971. While there he taught the first science-fiction class at the undergraduate level and always marveled at how weird it was to teach Heart of Darkness in one room while students were learning how to drop an atomic bomb in the room next door. He came to Central Michigan University in 1971 and retired in 2015, after 44 years of teaching, service, and scholarship. He was a George Bernard Shaw Scholar and served as the Shaw Bibliographer from 1972-2015. At CMU John worked to create positive working conditions for faculty while serving in various leadership roles with the Faculty Association since his arrival in 1971. As long-time chair of the grievance committee, he was a tireless advocate for faculty and due process. He was among the first recipients of the FA distinguished service award, served on three bargaining teams and chaired a fourth. However, if you asked him, he would say his greatest accomplishment in life was his children.
A lifelong reader, writer, and mentor, he was just as important to his students and colleagues as he was to his family. John loved words, rhymes, singing, and taking care of the inner child. John was a talented woodworker, tennis player, and avid reader of crime fiction. John loved the outdoors, and shared this love through the family woods in Farwell. He loved pine trees, Cheez-its, and to eat donuts in (and out of) the woods. He was compassionate and generous to a fault, a true scholar-gentleman. He was happiest when in conversation with smart people about any topic and will be missed by all those who were lucky enough to meet him.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brother Chris; sister Ruth; granddaughter Ruth; great-granddaughter Everlynn; niece Rachel; and nephew Aaron.
John is survived by his wife Tracy Collins and their daughter Rebecca Collins-Pfeiffer; his children: Mark (Lynn) Pfeiffer of Rochester Hills, Mary (Mark) Zielinski of Midland, John (Amanda) Pfeiffer of Midland, Jeanne Pfeiffer of Williamston, Stephen (Nehal) Pfeiffer of Watsonville, CA, Matthew (Karin) Pfeiffer of East Lansing, Christopher (Jill) Pfeiffer of Bay City; their mother Jeanne Reese of Midland; 22 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; sister Carol (Tom) Hogan of Livonia; brothers Mike (Maya) Pfeiffer of Drain, OR, George (Christina) Pfeiffer of Seattle, WA; brother-in-law Dick Foster of Fort Worth, TX; sister-in-law Kathy Benedict of Holland; sister-in-law Deni Stidham (Steve) of Ludington; mother and father in-law Art and Julie Collins of Ludington; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Celebration of Life for John will take place at Mt. Pleasant First United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 2 p.m. with Pastor David Hills officiating. Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall immediately following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Chippewa River Watershed Conservancy (P.O. Box 896, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0896) or the FA student scholarship fund at CMU (FA Scholarship Fund, Attn: Gifts Entry, Central Michigan University, 524 Bellows Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858).
John was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 11, 1938, the eldest child of George and Clara (Slawienski) Pfeiffer. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School of Royal Oak in 1956 where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. John earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit in 1956 in English, Philosophy and Latin and then a master’s degree in English in 1963 also from University of Detroit. He continued his studies at the University of Kentucky, earning his PhD in English and Modern German Literature in 1967. John served his country in the U.S. Air Force ROTC while in college and then served at the Air Force Academy at the rank of Captain as an English professor from 1967-1971. While there he taught the first science-fiction class at the undergraduate level and always marveled at how weird it was to teach Heart of Darkness in one room while students were learning how to drop an atomic bomb in the room next door. He came to Central Michigan University in 1971 and retired in 2015, after 44 years of teaching, service, and scholarship. He was a George Bernard Shaw Scholar and served as the Shaw Bibliographer from 1972-2015. At CMU John worked to create positive working conditions for faculty while serving in various leadership roles with the Faculty Association since his arrival in 1971. As long-time chair of the grievance committee, he was a tireless advocate for faculty and due process. He was among the first recipients of the FA distinguished service award, served on three bargaining teams and chaired a fourth. However, if you asked him, he would say his greatest accomplishment in life was his children.
A lifelong reader, writer, and mentor, he was just as important to his students and colleagues as he was to his family. John loved words, rhymes, singing, and taking care of the inner child. John was a talented woodworker, tennis player, and avid reader of crime fiction. John loved the outdoors, and shared this love through the family woods in Farwell. He loved pine trees, Cheez-its, and to eat donuts in (and out of) the woods. He was compassionate and generous to a fault, a true scholar-gentleman. He was happiest when in conversation with smart people about any topic and will be missed by all those who were lucky enough to meet him.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brother Chris; sister Ruth; granddaughter Ruth; great-granddaughter Everlynn; niece Rachel; and nephew Aaron.
John is survived by his wife Tracy Collins and their daughter Rebecca Collins-Pfeiffer; his children: Mark (Lynn) Pfeiffer of Rochester Hills, Mary (Mark) Zielinski of Midland, John (Amanda) Pfeiffer of Midland, Jeanne Pfeiffer of Williamston, Stephen (Nehal) Pfeiffer of Watsonville, CA, Matthew (Karin) Pfeiffer of East Lansing, Christopher (Jill) Pfeiffer of Bay City; their mother Jeanne Reese of Midland; 22 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; sister Carol (Tom) Hogan of Livonia; brothers Mike (Maya) Pfeiffer of Drain, OR, George (Christina) Pfeiffer of Seattle, WA; brother-in-law Dick Foster of Fort Worth, TX; sister-in-law Kathy Benedict of Holland; sister-in-law Deni Stidham (Steve) of Ludington; mother and father in-law Art and Julie Collins of Ludington; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Celebration of Life for John will take place at Mt. Pleasant First United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 2 p.m. with Pastor David Hills officiating. Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall immediately following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Chippewa River Watershed Conservancy (P.O. Box 896, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-0896) or the FA student scholarship fund at CMU (FA Scholarship Fund, Attn: Gifts Entry, Central Michigan University, 524 Bellows Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858).