In memoriam: Michael Cullen

Michael Cullen, a senior instructor in the Department of English, passed away Jan.16. He had been at UVic since 1990. Michael will be remembered as an innovative and inspirational teacher and a well-loved colleague and friend, as well for having an infectious, off-the-wall sense of humour. Students record doing their best for him by feeding off and reflecting his intelligence and passion. Michael was also an accomplished and award-winning writer of poems, plays, novels, screenplays, fiction, writing texts, study guides, chapters and reviews. He was an active member of the Sidney community for many years, and he shared his enthusiasm for writing by organizing the Sidney Reading Series and by writing weekly columns for the Peninsula News Review, for which he won an award. He is survived by his two daughters, Catherine and Maia, the latter being in her final term at UVic. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the doctors and nurses in palliative care unit at Saanich Peninsula Hospital for the loving care they provided Michael.

Contributed by Dr. Kim Blank, Department of English