FULTON, NY – Robert Emmet Long, of Fulton, died Saturday, June 4, 2016, a few days short of his 82nd birthday.
He was the son of the late Robert E. Long, Jr. and Verda Lindsley Long and was predeceased by his sister, Carolyn Long.
Robert was a 1952 graduate of Fulton High School, where he was class valedictorian, and later received both A.B. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University in New York City.
He had also attended Syracuse University.
He was a recognized authority on American and British literature and a commentator on the performing arts.
Robert was author or editor of some 50 books, including scholarly works on Henry James, James Fenimore Cooper, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Thurber, John O’Hara, John Huston, Ingmar Bergman, Liv Ullman and others.
He also wrote “The Films of Merchant Ivory,” “James Ivory in Conversation,” “Broadway, the Golden Years, Jerome Roberts and the Great Choreographer-Directors 1940 to the Present” among others.
His book on the films of Ismael Merchant and James Ivory is considered definitive.
He contributed more than 400 articles to many journals and magazines, including The Nation, Commonweal and Saturday Review.
Robert edited a series sponsored by the American Theater Wing, which sponsors the Tony Awards, covering writing, directing and producing for Broadway Theater.
He also served as a drama critic for the North American Review and was a long time member of the Syracuse James Joyce Club.
Surviving are cousins, Patricia Fitzgibbons of Oswego, Jennifer Long Donahue of Liverpool, Sarah Long Todd of Portland, Ore. and John Michael Hamilton of Fulton; also close friends, Marian Murphy Stanton of Fulton and Julius ‘Jay’ Boda of New York City.
Calling hours will be held 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay St., Fulton, with a Time of Remembrance immediately following.
Contributions in his memory may be made to a favorite charity.
Foster Funeral Home, Inc.
www.fosterfuneralhome.com
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He deserves tributes for his knowledge of the theater and cinematic worlds, of course, but I really feel his death is another slide into the less civilized world we are starting to experience. He truly was a scholar and a gentleman.