Campus remembers Professor Emeritus of English and former Jewish Studies Program Director

Dr. Jay Halio, Professor Emeritus of English and former Jewish Studies Program director, passed away on August 29, 2025, at the age of 97. Joining the University of Delaware in 1967, he was a legendary Shakespeare scholar and well-loved literature professor. In addition to being a full-time professor, Dr. Halio also served as the Jewish Studies Program director, editor of the University of Delaware Press, and associate provost of instruction throughout his decades with the university. Dr. Halio retired from full-time teaching in 2003, though he maintained an active presence, continuing to teach classes on campus and abroad and serving as our director. Dr. Halio’s legacy lives on in the countless minds he helped to shape, instilling a love of language and encouraging bold critical thinking in every UD student lucky enough to call him professor. He is deeply missed.

A Personal Remembrance

Leslie Reidel of the Department of Theatre and Dance shared some memories of Dr. Halio, his close friend and colleague: "Jay Halio changed my life at least five times. That’s right – altered my existence, at least five times. Much has been written and said about Jay’s remarkable accomplishments as a teacher and a scholar. An expert in Jewish American literature, in addition to his extraordinary research and editions of Shakespeare’s text, Jay is also known for his volumes on the teaching of Shakespeare. Thousands of school children, across America, have been introduced to Shakespeare by Jay. He was also an editor of the University of Delaware Press and served as associate provost to Leon Campbell, an outstanding scientist and administrator. In that regard, Jay was beyond remarkable. Until Campbell’s death Jay remained his friend, his confidant and his loving caretaker. Jay was extraordinary in his sensitivity to others and in that spirit, I write this remembrance of how he cared for me. I’m sure that there are many who might say the same about how Jay contributed to their life and work, as he did so for me five times.

First time, 1987

I was working in Milwaukee, as one of the founding faculty members of the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Wisconsin campus there. My phone rang and on the line was Jay Halio, calling from Delaware to ask me if I had any interest in coming east to head the theatre department. I was recommended to Jay by Mel Friedman, a friend and distinguished professor of comparative literature at UWM, who was Jay’s life-long friend. I had no such interest, but recommended my chair and colleague, Sandy Robbins, and within a year, I and seven of my colleagues were headed to Delaware. That’s right eight tenured (or tenure-track) professors in one sweeping move that then UD President Russel Jones was determined to make. And all because of that phone call from Jay. So, without that call there would be no UD Professional Theatre Training Program and no Resident Ensemble Players. And I would never have had the chance to co-create Philadelphia’s Enchantment Theatre Company, a company Jay generously supported with his annual gifts.

Second Time, 2005

Jay invited me to be his partner in offering a summer seminar, under the umbrella of an NEH grant, to teachers (K–12) from all over the United States. We spent three weeks in Delaware and two weeks in Stratford-upon-Avon working on teaching Shakespeare with these remarkable people. We did it three times, and I still correspond with participants of those programs. They all ask after Jay. None of it would have happened without him. 

Third time, 2010 

Jay, a Shakespeare scholar of considerable reputation, tells me that I, a play director, was, indeed, a “scholar” and should belong to the International Shakespeare Conference in Stratford-upon-Avon. I had been a theatre critic in popular press, but I never considered myself a “scholar.” I was a practitioner. Jay in his gentle way, kept insisting, and before long I was presenting papers in Stratford. Even more amazing, I was now a friend or acquaintance to several of the world’s great Shakespeare scholars, who were, of course, Jay’s friends. Again, none of this would have happened without Jay’s care and friendship.

Fourth time, 2012 

For years, Jay had taught a Winter Session course in London that was very successful. Once again, he invited me to be his partner in offering this program and we did it together for 11 years. I have carried on the program for the last three years without him, but, of course, it’s not the same. 

Fifth time, 2018

Jay had been the interim director of UD’s Jewish Studies Program, and as usual, wanted me to be involved. His urging and prodding led to my creation of a course in the Jewish influence on popular American culture, and that has been an extraordinary, eye-opening experience. With Jay’s coaching, I have discovered that Jews – who represent barely 2% of the American population — have created much of what we consider popular culture. It is more than the movies, more than broadcasting and the Broadway musical. I’ve discovered the Jewish influence in toys, fashion, perfume, make-up and even pin-ball machines. This remarkable awareness has changed me and my students and, once again, there was Jay gently nudging me into the work, taking no credit for himself.

Throughout all this activity, I often got to see Jay in action with students. Even though he was a noted and accomplished researcher, writer and critic, Jay’s “natural turf” was the classroom. He could not wait for the students to come into our seminar classroom. Jay was probing, even demanding, but always in a gentle and kind manner. Most of all he was affectionate toward the students and was genuinely curious about what they thought. He glowed in the classroom and students warmly embraced him. 

Jay was my mentor, colleague and friend. I owe much of my life to him. I relished our conversations about so many topics – Jewish literature, sports and, of course, Shakespeare. For the last 35 years, he was family. We celebrated many Jewish holidays and Sabbaths together. His wife Diane and my wife Janice became, and still are, close friends. I loved Jay dearly and miss him every day."

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