John P McCall

John P. McCall, age 92, of New Orleans, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 22, 2020. He was born on July 17, 1927 in Yonkers, NY to Ambrose V and Veronica McCall. John graduated from Regis High School in New York City, received a B.A. from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and earned a PhD in English literature from Princeton University in 1955 after serving in the US Army Signal Corps. He and Mary-Berenice Morris, also of Yonkers, married in 1957. He published on Chaucer and held academic positions at Georgetown University, the University of Cincinnati, and served as president of Knox College from 1982-1993. He earned ACLS, Fulbright, and Guggenheim fellowships and held positions in the AAUP, MLA, and government taskforces. From 1993-1995, John and Mary-Berenice served as Peace Corps volunteers in Turkmenistan and then made New Orleans their home. John soon began volunteering at Xavier University of Louisiana, which he did until his death. He enjoyed recognition for his contributions to Xavier in the aftermath of Katrina as a People’s Health Champion.
John McCall was an involved citizen, contacting elected officials, participating in community projects, and demonstrating as recently as 2018 for social justice. He attended fine and performing arts events, loved to learn, and enjoyed travel. An erudite medievalist, he was also a sports fan and Saints season ticket holder. John felt fortunate to be a parishioner of St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Ambrose V. McCall, Fr. Thomas D. McCall, S.J., Richard R. McCall, and Fr. Peter McCall, O.F.M. CAP.; he is survived by his sister, Ann McCall Cofiell McGrath. John’s wife, Mary-Berenice, preceded him in death in 2004. He is survived by their four children: Claire M. McCall, Anne E. McCall, Ambrose V. McCall, and Peter D. McCall and their families. He was an adoring Grandpa to Melody, Jefferson, and Berenice Saint-Saens and felt lucky to know them as adults with their own families. He delighted in his great-grandson, Xavier Leggett-Saint-Saens. He is also survived by his close friend and brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas Q. Morris and his wife Jackie, beloved nieces and nephews, and friends around the world.
Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the John P. McCall Endowed Scholarship at Xavier University of Louisiana.

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