Lawrence University is mourning the passing of Garth Bond, a beloved member of the English faculty for 20 years. Garth passed away on July 9, 2025, at age 53 due to complications from his long battle with leukemia.
Garth's wife, Julie, shared a few words about Garth on her Facebook profile.
“Garth was optimistic, positive, and future-focused,” she wrote. “In the last year, Garth spent many months in the hospital, and he coped extremely well, displaying an inner strength that is really remarkable.”
Garth came to Lawrence after teaching in the Writing Program at Temple University. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and he joined the Lawrence faculty as a visiting instructor in the English department in 2005. He started on the tenure track soon thereafter.
A specialist in medieval and early modern literature, his research and teaching heavily involved classic English literature from Shakespeare and others of the Renaissance to 16th- and 17th-century British poets.
The course History of the Book was introduced by Garth, who was also a past director and frequent instructor in the First-Year Studies program. He received the Freshman Studies Teaching Award in 2020.
“We deeply mourn the loss of Garth, a treasured member of our English department and shining light in our academic community,” said President Laurie A. Carter. “Through his profound love of literature and storytelling, he inspired our students to think critically, write boldly, and engage deeply with the human experience. Garth's legacy will live on in the conversations sparked by his teaching.”
“He (Garth) loved teaching and treasured the camaraderie and friendship in our community,” said Peter Blitstein, Provost and Dean of the Faculty and associate professor of history. “Those of us who were close to Garth know that he gave even more than he received from us. He was a kind, thoughtful friend, and colleague.”
Garth Bond teaches First-Year Studies (2022)
David Gerard, John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor of the American Economic System and associate professor of economics, recalled the first time he taught First-Year Studies; they were covering The Tempest, and Garth was to deliver the faculty lecture.
"The Actors from the London Stage were on campus to perform the play and to conduct hands-on acting workshops," Gerard said. "That was the year we had a giant class of 450 first-year students, so we moved the lecture to the (Memorial) Chapel. The place was buzzing. Garth brought the house down with a lecture that featured two student actors and a big log. It was an incredible liberal arts experience."
Celia Barnes, associate professor of English, said Garth was one of the first people she met at Lawrence when she arrived in 2010, and they shared adjacent offices for more than a decade.
“Garth’s capacity to think expansively, to entertain contradiction, and to listen without judgment made him a treasured colleague, teacher, and friend, and I think our students loved him for the same reason,” Barnes said. “He modeled for them that critical thinking isn’t about certainty or fixity but about curiosity and openness. Garth taught us to think more humanely and more generously, and that’s such a lasting gift.”
Ariela Rosa, Lawrence class of 2015 and former associate director of corporate, foundation, and sponsored research support, remembered her time as a student in Garth’s classes, first studying Shakespeare and then Milton before completing her capstone. As a nontraditional student pursuing an English degree, she said she worried about her preparedness and ability to participate in class.
“Garth was so patient with this complex of mine and guided discussions so thoughtfully that I was able (and even excited) to participate without fear,” Rosa recalled. “In our capstone course, centered on the topic of failure, Garth supported my analysis of the first two Rocky films. I will never forget the various discussions we shared during office hours. At those times, we were just two people nerding out over a deep analysis of movies we had both enjoyed.”
Even after she was no longer Garth’s student, Rosa felt his influence in her daily life.
“He never once forgot my birthday, and he was among the first to cheer when I had exciting news,” Rosa said. “No matter what was happening, you could always count on Garth being there, even if just in the background, rooting for you. This is what it felt like to be his student, his colleague, and his friend.”
In addition to his passion for English literature, Garth brought his love for activity to campus. A devoted fan of professional soccer leagues here and abroad, he was a frequent participant in pick-up games with students and colleagues.
The faculty pick-up soccer group, Garth Bond pictured in the middle back (2010)
David McGlynn, professor of English, met Garth when McGlynn was hired by Lawrence in 2006. McGlynn then participated in the search that hired Garth the following year. Since then, they have been fast friends.
“Garth was endlessly curious. A person could ask his opinion or thoughts about almost any topic, and he’d have an insight or an opinion to share,” said McGlynn. “He buzzed from one topic to the next, paced his office, gestured with his hands, and made us all laugh. He loved soccer, but he could hold court about hockey, college sports, or the Olympics.”
For his love of literature, teaching, soccer, and everything in between, Garth will be deeply missed by the Lawrence community.
“Garth really valued community,” Julie wrote. “He loved being at Lawrence. He loved his soccer community. If one of his students published a book, he bought four copies. If he saw someone he knew on the sidewalk, he ran out the front door and chased them down. He loved supporting local businesses. Garth would walk the halls at Froedtert and update the nurses on soccer scores. He ran down the hall to say goodbye to his favorite janitor before coming home two weeks ago.”
A celebration of Garth’s life and career is being planned for early fall. Stay tuned for details.
