Ellen Rose, writer, editor

Ellen Cronan Rose, 73, of Center City, an editor, writer, and retired professor of women's studies, died of cancer Monday, Oct. 10, at home.

Since 2002, Dr. Rose had been a coeditor of Temple University's Journal of Modern Literature. The quarterly publishes scholarly analysis of literature written in the 20th century and beyond and is known for its annual review of the year's academic writings on modern literature.

Dr. Rose was the author of books, papers, and articles on Margaret Drabble, Doris Lessing, and feminist literature. She was active in several academic organizations, including the National Women's Studies Association. She was past president of the Doris Lessing Society and the Women's Caucus for Modern Languages.

Before joining the staff of the Journal of Modern Literature, Dr. Rose was a professor of women's studies at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas for nine years and was chair of the women's studies department there from 2001 to 2002.

From 1985 until 1993 she was a professor of English at Drexel University. Before that, she taught English literature at Haverford College and was a visiting lecturer at Swarthmore College.

She also taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wesleyan University Graduate School, and Dartmouth College.

Dr. Rose grew up in Middletown, Dauphin County. She earned a bachelor's degree from Goucher College in 1958, a master's in English literature from the University of Michigan in 1959, and a doctorate in English literature from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1974. From 1962 to 1963, she studied at Cambridge University on a Fulbright Fellowship.

Since moving to Philadelphia, she had served on the board and the education committee of the Community Women's Education Project.

A proud Democrat and American Civil Liberties Union member, Dr. Rose volunteered for Michael Nutter's successful 2007 mayoral campaign in Philadelphia. She also campaigned for Joe Sestak, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and 2008, representing Pennsylvania's Seventh Congressional District.

An opera aficionado, she served on the education board of the Center City Opera Theater and held season tickets for all the Philadelphia opera companies, her daughter Amanda said.

Dr. Rose and her son, Barnabas, watched nearly every Phillies game on TV for the last two seasons. In April, from seats behind first base, they watched the Phils, behind Cliff Lee and Ryan Madson, defeat the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park.

She enjoyed visiting her children and traveling abroad with them, including to the Middle East and Africa. In 1979, her daughter Amanda accompanied her to England, where she was a research fellow at the University College of London. During their nine-month stay, they saw 91 plays - a testament to her love of the arts and organizational skills, her daughter said.

In addition to her son and daughter, Dr. Rose is survived by another daughter, Emily Hoffman; two grandchildren; and her former husband, Remington Rose-Crossley.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square. Dr. Rose served as secretary of the society's board, was a member of its ethical action committee, and edited its newsletter.

Donations may be made to the Human Rights Campaign via www.hrc.org.