David Baldwin Espey, former assistant dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and a former lecturer and administrator in the department of English, died on April 19. He was 83. 

Born in Elmira, New York, Dr. Espey graduated from Hamilton College, then went on to earn his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and his PhD in English from the University of Michigan. He spent two years in Morocco as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the early 1960s, which gave him a deep appreciation of other cultures and perspectives and inspired his love of teaching. Dr. Espey received Fulbright senior fellowships to teach in Morocco, Turkey, and Japan. 

In 1979, Dr. Espey joined Penn’s faculty as assistant dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and as an academic advisor in the school. In 1984, he became a coordinator in the department of English, and nine years later, he became director of the department. During his time at Penn, he also served as a lecturer in the English department and in the College of General Studies (the precursor of today’s College of Liberal & Professional Studies) and directed the English department’s freshman English program. In 2006, Dr. Espey earned a teaching award for his lectures in CGS (Almanac April 18, 2006). “In courses on topics ranging from travel writing to modernism,” said his write-up upon receiving the award, “he has garnered high marks from his CGS students, one of whom writes, ‘In attending Prof. Espey’s class, I found inspiration and a burning love for poetry!’” He retired from Penn in 2007.

Dr. Espey loved traveling, hiking, reading, and gardening. He cared deeply about issues like literacy, poverty, and international health, and donated to and volunteered for various non-profit organizations, including serving as a board member of the Eastern Service Workers in Philadelphia.

He is survived by his wife, Molly Tobin Espey; his children, Daniel J. Espey and Claire Tobin Espey; his sisters, Libby Reider and Margaret Iaconelli; his brother, John Espey; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Dr. Espey’s life will be held later this summer. Donations can be made to the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania (https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/giving).