Brian McCann ’84 with Rattigan Professor of English John Mahoney

John Mahoney

BRIAN MCCANN: John Mahoney piqued my interest in English to such an extent that I wound up being an English major. I had him as a freshman for “Critical Reading and Writing,” and he took what might have been potentially deadly works and made me understand how they were applicable to me. His passion in the classroom, his flair, his zest, and his command of the material were an inspiration. One of the pieces of advice I was given when I arrived at BC was to meet individually with each of my professors at least once. With John Mahoney, that first visit turned into twice-a-week meetings in his office. I was passionate about the theater, and so was he. I remember that once when I came to see him he said, “Brian, I’ve been meaning to ask you something. What ever happened to Gwen Verdon?” He was turning to me for information about a star he loved but who had disappeared from view. When it came time to write a term paper during my junior year, he said he had found some little-known plays by Wordsworth and Coleridge that he wanted me to work on. He always made you feel like he knew you very well.

Brian McCann is the principal of Joseph Case High School in Swansea, Massachusetts.