Joseph Henry Lemrow Iii

Joseph Henry Lemrow III, passed away peacefully on his 83rd birthday, September 13, 2024 with his family by his side. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to the late Joseph Henry and Madeline (née, Warren) Lemrow II of New Hyde Park, NY.

Joseph is survived by his loving children, Jude McCauley Lemrow of Chicago, IL, Erin Moira Lemrow, Ph.D. of South Bend, IN, and Neil Joseph Lemrow of Mount Hope, WV; former spouse of 30 years, Diane Marie Lemrow of South Bend, IN; grandchildren, Angelique Moira, Roseanna Cygnet, Joshua Terre, Bridghaite Grace and Lily Francis Lemrow all of South Bend; and niece, Beth Larkin of New Orleans, LA.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Lynne C. McCauley, Ph.D. of Point Lookout, NY (d. 1998).

Joseph is a graduate of St. Mary’s High School (class of 1959), Manhasset, NY. There, he was a stand-out track star, excelling in the 440m Relay and participating in the CHSAA competitions at Madison Square Garden. His classmates and friends describe him as calm, faithful, and kind, with a cutting sense of humor. Joseph was one of the first in his family to attend college and went on to earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in English Literature from St. John’s University in Queens, NY and a Ph.D. in English Literature from New York University. He was a man of letters who was never without a copy of Derek Walcott, Seamus Heaney, or a weathered copy of Richard III.

Professionally, Joseph worked as a Professor of English at Southwestern Michigan College for over 30 years inspiring students of all stripes to appreciate poetry and as well as a well-devised essay. As Chair of the English department, he led over fourteen student trips to Stratford, Ontario Canada for Stratford's annual Shakespeare Festival. An author in his own right, Lemrow published, “Write to Work: A Survival Manual for Academic and Workplace Success” in 2010 with Irish author, Dr. Michael Collins.

In his free time, Joseph enjoyed warm cups of coffee, walks on his acreage, the New York Times Crosswords, impromptu trips to visit children and grandchildren in his Chevy pick-up truck, and his horses. He instilled in his children the love of literature and was known to quote Act 1, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Polonius: “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

Joseph will be entered alongside his parents at Holy Road Catholic Cemetery, in Old Westbury, NY.

The family would like to thank all CNAs, Nurses, and staff at Healthwin Specialized Care and Caring Cove Hospice under the direction of Dr. Sweeny.

There are no services planned at this time.