Marian C. Bean

Marian C. Bean, Associate Professor Emerita of English, passed away from cancer on May 3, 2023, at Bluegrass Hospice in Lexington, Kentucky. She was 74 years old. Professor Bean received her Ph.D. in linguistics from UCLA in 1976 with a dissertation on the development of word order in Old English. She joined UW-Madison in 1976 as an assistant professor in the English Department, where she taught classes on the history of English, English dialects, and linguistics for teachers. Students praised her as a caring teacher who always took the time to discuss their work with them. Bean was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1982. Her most influential publication was her 1983 book on word order in Old English. Outside of the university, Marian Bean was a passionate advocate for animal rights and an engaged member of community organizations. She adopted many animals that were considered unadoptable by shelters. In 2004, she retired from UW-Madison and moved back to her home state, Kentucky, to be closer to her family. Her last Ph.D. advisee, Professor Nirada Chitrakara from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, shared “I was overjoyed when she [Professor Bean] agreed to be my advisor for my dissertation on the historical development of the English middle construction. Every advising session was a joy. Professor Bean played a crucial role in my academic journey and personal growth, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been her student. Her wisdom and kindness will be deeply missed.”