For many John Carroll University students, faculty and staff, Roger Purdy, Ph.D., was more than a professor. He was a mentor and role model whose nearly four decades at JCU were shaped by his dedication to his classes and passion for East Asian history.
Anne Kugler, History Department chair, said that Purdy was “hard working, reliable, [had a] nice sense of humor, [was] very present in the department, kind to his students and polite to his colleagues.” She added that he “was concerned for his students and had a following among them” since many chose him to teach several of their required courses.
Purdy, who joined JCU in 1988 and was promoted to full professor last year, taught generations of students about modern Japan and China, as well as the history of pop culture in modern Asia. He also taught a handful of core curriculum courses that drew more students than those studying only history, including Japan at War and Peace, Modern East Asian History, Popular Culture in Japanese History and Contemporary East Asian History.
He has also worked with departments such as Political Science and English to teach linked courses. Since Purdy was the only East Asian specialist, he often “had to teach a very wide range” of courses each semester, Kugler said.
In 2024, he produced a textbook called “Modern Japan” through Bloomsbury Press. Previously, Purdy published content about Japanese news reels during World War II, which required reading and speaking in the language, and taught at Sophia University in Tokyo.
Other accomplishments Purdy has undertaken to enhance the history department’s reputation include supervising senior theses, leading study tours to Japan and serving in several professional organizations.
“He was very friendly and hilarious,” said Muhammad Ameen Sugapong ’27, who is enrolled in Purdy’s Popular Culture in Japanese History course this semester. “He was always very cordial with us [and] made the environment safe and friendly.”
Kugler said that Purdy was “a very novel lecturer” and laid out material in an organized way. Sugapong stated that he “was very down to earth” and “very conversational,” which made the subject very interesting.
“I would talk to him a lot after class about Japanese pieces of media,” said Sugapong.
Kugler added that when Purdy was promoted to full professorship last year, students brought him flowers. In addition, he was given a cake for his birthday a couple of years ago.
“I think it sort of tells you what kind of person he is and how much students enjoy him,” she said.
According to Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Br. Matt Wooters ’09, Campus Ministry offers one-on-one grief counseling, as well as holding services and gatherings in the St. Francis Chapel. He explained that the Counseling Center is also available and campus ministers spoke to each of Purdy’s classes directly after his passing. Wooters emphasized that “grief is not linear,” noting that it includes both good and bad days and moments.
Kugler stated that the history department had a scheduled meeting on March 18 to determine plans to honor Purdy’s memory. She also mentioned that department-hosted events will most likely wait until mid-April or once the weather is nicer.
“People had nothing but good things to say about him,” said Sugapong. “He was a great professor and we all miss him very much.”
