Lee Devin has given 32 years of his theatrical expertise to Swarthmore College, helping the Department of Theater “become an essential part of Swarthmore’s humanities curriculum,” according to a former colleague.

Mr. Devin, a professor emeritus of theater, actor, playwright, and author, died March 19 at 85, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Lee Devin, a Swarthmore resident, was also a longtime dramaturge at People’s Light theater

Professor Devin had a goal to create a vibrant theater program at Swarthmore College when he arrived there in 1970 as an associate professor of English literature.

His work earned three decades of prizes and grants, and theater became a graduating major at Swarthmore in 1987.

“He taught lovingly,” said his wife Abigail Adams.

His classes focused on the fundamentals of acting, directing, writing and set design.

He started artist-in-residencies, welcomed theater companies to perform on campus, and invited professional actors to interact with students. 

Mr. Devin helped design the Lang Performing Arts Center that opened in 1991.

He was praised by former colleagues for his “compelling visions” and “entrepreneurial” projects, and demonstrated that theater studies were “not an alternative to their education but an invaluable contribution to it.”

Read more about the life of Lee Devin in The Philadelphia Inquirer.