Dr. Peter James Stanlis

“Courage and a well developed aesthetic sense are the cardinal virtues.”

Dr. Peter James Stanlis, 91, distinguished professor of humanities emeritus of Rockford College, died peacefully Monday, July 18, 2011, in his sleep, in his Rockford home. He was born Aug. 12, to Lithuanian immigrant parents in Newark, N.J. His education included graduation from Nutley (N.J.) High School in 1937, a 1942 B.A. from Middlebury College (Vt.), an M.A. from Middlebury's Bread Loaf Graduate School of English, and a PhD. From the University of Michigan in 1951. Rockford College awarded him an honorary Ph.D. in humanities after his retirement. Dr. Stanlis was the world's authority on the British statesman Edmund Burke, having written more publications about Burke than anyone living or dead. In addition, he wrote several books and many articles about his friend and mentor, the poet Robert Frost. Dr. Stanlis lectured at prestigious academic gatherings, both in the US, and abroad, and translations of his works have appeared in Swedish, French, German, Italian and Japanese. His two most influential books are “Edmund Burke and the Natural Law,” now in its fifth edition, and “Robert Frost: The Poet as Philosopher.” He served as President Reagan's appointee for six years on The National Endowment for the Humanities beginning in 1982. In 1987 he was appointed a British Academy Research. Fellow.
He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Rotary, the board of the Rockford Institute, advisor to The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal (located in Mecosta, Mich.), founding member of the American Society for the 18th Century Studies, distinguished member of The Philadelphia Society, member of The Caxton Club of Chicago, co-founder of The Robert Frost Stone House Museum near Bennington, Vt., and its Friends of Frost, member of the Conference of British Studies, perennial member of the Frost Scholars Annual Gatherings, etc. Survivors include daughter, Ingrid (Paul Donnelly); stepchildren, Margaret Batjer McNeeley (Joe), Dr. Hunt Batjer (Janet), and Peter Batjer (Colleen); and professor emeritus Joan Surrey Clark. Predeceased by his wife, Eleanor Stanlis (eminent violinist and founder of The Rockford Music Academy); and daughter, Ellie. Memorial Mass at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Road. Inurnment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rockford Music Academy Foundation, P.O. Box 6333, Rockford, IL 61125 or Holy Family School, 4407 Highcrest Road, Rockford, IL 61107.