In Memoriam: Susan Parker Bloom, 1938-2019

Susan P. Bloom, associate professor emerita at Simmons University in Boston, passed away on June 7, 2019. She was 80 years old.

Professor Bloom began her career as an English teacher at Newton North High School in Massachusetts, where she supervised student teachers from Simmons. She also taught freshman composition programs at the college. From 1986-2005, she directed the graduate program in Children’s Literature and the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons. During her career, she and her colleague Cathie Mercier launched 13 Summer Institutes in Children’s Literature, designed a master of fine arts degree, and co-authored three biocritical studies of significant writers.

Outside of her educational career, Professor Bloom served on The Horn Book review staff, twice chaired the Boston Globe‘s Horn Book Awards, twice served on the prestigious Newberry Award committee, and served on the PEN New England Children’s Book Caucus. Upon her retirement, the Caucus renamed the award as Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award in recognition of her commitment to emerging talent.

Professor Bloom held a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in children’s literature both from Simmons University.