John A. Goulet

John Andrew Goulet December 18, 1942 – February 7, 2018 John Andrew Goulet died peacefully on a snowy night on February 7. John was born in Boston and as a child lived in many cities in the US. After living for three decades on the east side of Milwaukee, John moved to Thiensville, WI. John is survived by loving partner, Susan Blake, dear son Matthew (Sari) Goulet, step-sons John (Maggie) Blake and Joe Wicentowski (and family), sister-in-law Sharon (Mike) Charles, and many dear family and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, John F. Goulet and Isabelle Coquelin Goulet. John attended St. John's University in Minnesota before completing an MA in English at San Francisco State University as well as an MFA and a PhD in Fiction Writing from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop. As a young man who marched in the civil rights movement, John spent time in a Clarksdale, Mississippi jail. He taught English in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia for two years, an experience that moved him deeply. It was among his proudest accomplishments. After teaching at Hanover College in Indiana, he was recruited by the English Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), where he taught from 1975 until his retirement in 2005. In his early days at UWM John was one of the primary architects of the doctoral program in Creative Writing, which is now regularly ranked as one of the premier literary writing programs in the United States. John went on to direct this program for many years, all the while writing his own fiction. John published two novels: Oh's Profit and Yvette in America. John's short stories were published in many of the finest literary magazines in the United States, including The Literary Review, Beloit Fiction Quarterly, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Flash Fiction Forward, Folio, Story Quarterly, and the Massachusetts Review. Most recently, he published a collection of his short stories, “Wally Boil, You're a Mean Person and I Hate You Forever!” in which John wielded ironic humor to reveal our fragile humanity. John was a dedicated, beloved teacher and became a friend and mentor to many students. His students share heartwarming stories of John visiting them out of state, assisting with the selection of first interview suits, and helping them navigate the publishing world. He was often first to read their work and always ready to celebrate their successes. In 1980, John won the prized University Outstanding Teaching Award. John loved to fish, tell stories, and perform Shakespeare with his Fish Preservation Society of life-long friends. He authored and performed many musical-parody productions with the Rhubarbarians. He painted and created videos and digital art. He and Susan enjoyed watching birds, entertaining friends, and traveling to his beloved France. He was never happier than when he was sailing any of his temperamental boats. And he loved collecting and running antique Lionel trains with his son, Matthew. In John’s final weeks, he and his many visitors were grateful to receive kindhearted care at the Lawlis Family Hospice. John’s family will receive friends on Saturday, March 10, 2018 on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, at the Edith S. Hefter Conference Center. Memorial Service for John Goulet Saturday, March 10, 2018 Hefter Conference Center 3271 N. Lake Drive Milwaukee, WI 53211 Fellowship: 10:30 am—12:00 noon Memorial Service: 12:00 noon In lieu of flowers, contributions to the UWM English Department’s Creative Writing Fund (#3714) would honor John’s memory. Find information at: http://uwm.edu/english/give/