Alice Stewart Trillin
Encyclopedia
Alice Stewart Trillin was an educator, author, film producer and longtime muse to her husband, author Calvin Trillin
. She was also known for her work with cancer patients. Alice Trillin is a recurring subject in Calvin Trillin's writings, including his 2006 book titled About Alice.
to Dorothy and James Stewart, a businessman and inventor specializing in coin changers of vending machines. After attending public school in Harrison, New York
she earned a B.A. from Wellesley College in 1960 and an M.A. in English from Yale University
in 1961. She subsequently taught English at Hofstra University
and at the City University of New York
, where she became a writing program specialist.
She married Calvin Trillin
in 1965 after having met him at a party hosted by Victor Navasky
. She regularly made appearances in Calvin's writings - including books such as American Fried, Alice, Let's Eat and Third Helpings - often as the voice of calm reason. Calvin acknowledged that his writings created an impression of Alice as "a dietitian in sensible shoes" - which was perhaps not matched by reality.
television station and help it design new approaches to educational programming. She formed a company "Learning Designs" to produce educational television series, such as Behind the Scenes, starring the illusionist duo Penn & Teller
, aiming to teach pre-teens about the creative process in the visual and performing arts. The series won several awards including the Japan Prize
(Best of Festival) in the largest international children's film festival.
Trillin was also a major part of Open admissions
and basic writing at City College
, New York. Prior to teaching at City College, she taught at Hofstra where, in 1964, she met the recently hired Mina P. Shaughnessy
. The two were instant friends. While at Hofstra, Trillin received the Samuel Rubin Foundation to set up “Project NOAH,” a project designed to assist and tutor minority students.
In November 1966, Herbert Kohl’s published an article titled “Teaching the ‘Unteachable,’ The Story of an Experiment in Creative Writing,” which greatly moved Alice. She discussed it with Kohl and later with Leslie Berger at City College. When Alice first met with Berger in 1967, he instantly hired her into City’s Pre-Baccalaureate program. Alice spoke so highly of Mina that she was also given an interview and position. With the budget cuts of the mid 1970s, Alice worked for Mina as a “skills expert” in CUNY’s midtown offices.
in 1981. Her writing is still used to train doctors to appreciate the illness and its treatment from a patient's point of view. Her personal experience also led Alice to adopt and care for other cancer patients. At her funeral service Nora Ephron
described the people under Alice's protection as "anyone she loved, or liked, or knew, or didn’t quite know but knew someone who did, or didn’t know from a hole in a wall but had just gotten a telephone call from because they’d found the number in the telephone book."
In 1979, Alice Trillin learned that her friend's 12 year old son Bruno Navasky had been diagnosed with cancer. A letter she wrote to Bruno, describing her own experiences and attempting to cheer him, was later published in a book form titled "Dear Bruno". The book was illustrated by New Yorker
artist Edward Koren.
Alice Trillin died on September 11, 2001 at the New York Presbyterian Hospital from heart failure resulting from radiation damage to her heart when she was treated for lung cancer in 1976. Eight months before her demise, Trillin's essay "Betting her life" on doctors, illness and family was published in The New Yorker
.
Because she died the same day and in the same city
as the terrorist attacks on the United States, she is sometimes thought to have been one of the victims.
Alice and Calvin Trillin were volunteer counselors at actor Paul Newman
's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
in Connecticut for children with cancer or serious blood diseases.
Calvin Trillin
Calvin Marshall Trillin is an American journalist, humorist, food writer, poet, memoirist and novelist.-Biography:Trillin attended public schools in Kansas City and went on to Yale University, where he served as chairman of the Yale Daily News and was a member of Scroll and Key before graduating...
. She was also known for her work with cancer patients. Alice Trillin is a recurring subject in Calvin Trillin's writings, including his 2006 book titled About Alice.
Early life
Alice Stewart was born in Port Chester, New YorkPort Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
to Dorothy and James Stewart, a businessman and inventor specializing in coin changers of vending machines. After attending public school in Harrison, New York
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
she earned a B.A. from Wellesley College in 1960 and an M.A. in English from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1961. She subsequently taught English at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
and at the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, where she became a writing program specialist.
She married Calvin Trillin
Calvin Trillin
Calvin Marshall Trillin is an American journalist, humorist, food writer, poet, memoirist and novelist.-Biography:Trillin attended public schools in Kansas City and went on to Yale University, where he served as chairman of the Yale Daily News and was a member of Scroll and Key before graduating...
in 1965 after having met him at a party hosted by Victor Navasky
Victor Navasky
Victor Saul Navasky is a professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He was editor of The Nation from 1978 until 1995, and its publisher and editorial director 1995 to 2005. In November 2005 he became the publisher emeritus...
. She regularly made appearances in Calvin's writings - including books such as American Fried, Alice, Let's Eat and Third Helpings - often as the voice of calm reason. Calvin acknowledged that his writings created an impression of Alice as "a dietitian in sensible shoes" - which was perhaps not matched by reality.
Career
Trillin's interest in curriculum development led her to consult for WNETWNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
television station and help it design new approaches to educational programming. She formed a company "Learning Designs" to produce educational television series, such as Behind the Scenes, starring the illusionist duo Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
, aiming to teach pre-teens about the creative process in the visual and performing arts. The series won several awards including the Japan Prize
Japan Prize
is awarded to people from all parts of the world whose "original and outstanding achievements in science and technology are recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and served the cause of peace and prosperity for mankind."- Explanation :...
(Best of Festival) in the largest international children's film festival.
Trillin was also a major part of Open admissions
Open admissions
Open admissions is a type of unselective and non-competitive college admissions process in the United States in which the only criterion for entrance is a high school diploma or a General Educational Development certificate.This form of "inclusive" admissions is used by many public junior...
and basic writing at City College
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, New York. Prior to teaching at City College, she taught at Hofstra where, in 1964, she met the recently hired Mina P. Shaughnessy
Mina P. Shaughnessy
Mina P. Shaughnessy , born in the mining town of Lead, South Dakota, was a teacher and innovator in the field of basic writing at the City University of New York .- Early life :...
. The two were instant friends. While at Hofstra, Trillin received the Samuel Rubin Foundation to set up “Project NOAH,” a project designed to assist and tutor minority students.
In November 1966, Herbert Kohl’s published an article titled “Teaching the ‘Unteachable,’ The Story of an Experiment in Creative Writing,” which greatly moved Alice. She discussed it with Kohl and later with Leslie Berger at City College. When Alice first met with Berger in 1967, he instantly hired her into City’s Pre-Baccalaureate program. Alice spoke so highly of Mina that she was also given an interview and position. With the budget cuts of the mid 1970s, Alice worked for Mina as a “skills expert” in CUNY’s midtown offices.
Dealing with cancer
Trillin developed lung cancer, apparently as a result of exposure to second-hand smoke during her childhood. She wrote of her experience as a cancer patient in an article titled "Of Dragons and Garden Peas: A Cancer Patient Talks to Doctors", in the New England Journal of MedicineNew England Journal of Medicine
The New England Journal of Medicine is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It describes itself as the oldest continuously published medical journal in the world.-History:...
in 1981. Her writing is still used to train doctors to appreciate the illness and its treatment from a patient's point of view. Her personal experience also led Alice to adopt and care for other cancer patients. At her funeral service Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger.She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in...
described the people under Alice's protection as "anyone she loved, or liked, or knew, or didn’t quite know but knew someone who did, or didn’t know from a hole in a wall but had just gotten a telephone call from because they’d found the number in the telephone book."
In 1979, Alice Trillin learned that her friend's 12 year old son Bruno Navasky had been diagnosed with cancer. A letter she wrote to Bruno, describing her own experiences and attempting to cheer him, was later published in a book form titled "Dear Bruno". The book was illustrated by New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
artist Edward Koren.
Alice Trillin died on September 11, 2001 at the New York Presbyterian Hospital from heart failure resulting from radiation damage to her heart when she was treated for lung cancer in 1976. Eight months before her demise, Trillin's essay "Betting her life" on doctors, illness and family was published in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
.
Because she died the same day and in the same city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as the terrorist attacks on the United States, she is sometimes thought to have been one of the victims.
Alice and Calvin Trillin were volunteer counselors at actor Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut is a non-profit, residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions.-History:...
in Connecticut for children with cancer or serious blood diseases.
Selected works
- A.S. Trillin, E. Korren (Illustrator), "Dear Bruno", New Press, 1996, ISBN 1-56584-057-7
- A.S. Trillin, "Of Dragons and Garden Peas: A Cancer Patient Talks to Doctors", New England Journal of MedicineNew England Journal of MedicineThe New England Journal of Medicine is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It describes itself as the oldest continuously published medical journal in the world.-History:...
, 304 (12), pp. 699–701, March 19, 1981. - A.S. Trillin, "Betting your life", The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, January 29, 2001.
See also
- Calvin TrillinCalvin TrillinCalvin Marshall Trillin is an American journalist, humorist, food writer, poet, memoirist and novelist.-Biography:Trillin attended public schools in Kansas City and went on to Yale University, where he served as chairman of the Yale Daily News and was a member of Scroll and Key before graduating...