Donald Barlow Stauffer

Albany- Donald Barlow Stauffer, of Albany, NY, died peacefully on July 21, 2026, in the loving company of his family.

Born in 1930 in East Orange, NJ, the son of Frederick Stauffer and Elizabeth Barlow, Donald received a B.A. with distinction from Wesleyan University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Indiana University. During the Korean conflict he served with the US Army. Before completing his graduate study he worked briefly in Washington, DC. with the Department of the Navy, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Association of American Railroads.

An internationally known Poe scholar and author of a history of American poetry, Professor Stauffer came to the UAlbany English Department in 1964, where he served as an acting chair and as a director of graduate study. He taught also at Indiana University, the Baruch College of CUNY and Williams College. He was one of the first UAlbany professors to teach in China as exchange professor of American literature at Beijing University in 1980-1981. He also taught at the University of Würzburg, Germany, and was a Fulbright lecturer at Seoul National University in South Korea. He served for a year as Assistant Provost for International Programs at SUNY Central Administration. He retired in 1994.

Don was an honorary life member of the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore and a member of the Walt Whitman Association, the American Humor Studies Association and the Poe Studies Association.

After retirement, Don and his wife Morag continued to travel widely in Europe and Asia. He also did volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, Literacy Volunteers, Community Caregivers, from whom he received their Founders Award in 2006, and Unity House of Troy. He enjoyed gardening, and was a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County. He was also a member of the Albany Torch Club and former president of the Schenectady chapter. A lover of music throughout his life, he sang with Octavo Singers of Schenectady and the Jubilate Singers of Bethlehem, and sang and played recorder with a number of other groups in the Capital Region and elsewhere.

Don and his family lived in the Altamont area for 46 years, before moving to Avila Retirement Community. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Morag Kennedy Stauffer, their son, John Donald, who died in 1966, and by his brother, Lawrence B. Stauffer. He is survived by three living children, Andrew Stauffer (Isabel) of Dallas, TX, Douglas Stauffer of Tacoma, WA, and Margaret Spoonogle of Ballston Lake, in addition to grandchildren Kelly Speizio (Philip) and Christopher Spoonogle, and his beloved partner Susan Shipherd and her children, JP Shipherd and Jillian Shipherd.

A private memorial gathering to celebrate and honor Donald's life will be held at a later date. Family and close friends will come together to share memories, reflect on the joy he brought to others, and celebrate a life well lived. The family appreciates your thoughts, prayers, and support during this time.

Don wishes to express gratitude for the loving service of Community Hospice, and to Martha Guscott and her team of aides for their care and many kindnesses.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Donald’s name to Unity House of Troy (www.unityhouseny.org).