Services for Former History Professor Joseph Tyrrell Will Be Jan. 24
Joseph M. Tyrrell, of Norfolk, professor emeritus of history, died Jan. 18, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He was 81.
He joined the Old Dominion faculty in 1959 as an assistant professor and was promoted to professor in 1967. He retired in 1982 and was awarded the emeritus professor rank in 1984.
Tyrrell's specialty and scholarship was in the area of medieval French history. He wrote two books in the field: "Louis XI" and "A History of the Estates of Poitou."
Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Tyrrell received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Toronto, and earned the Diplome de Langue Francaise from the Universite de Rennes in France. He received his Ph.D. in history from Emory University.
Tyrrell also taught one year at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., before coming to ODU.
He was a member of the American Historical Society, Medieval Society of America, Society for French Historical Studies, International Commission for the History of Representative and Parliamentary Institutions, American Association of University Professors, Virginia Social Science Association and the Southeastern Medieval Association.
Tyrrell was the grandson of the late Joseph Burr Tyrrell, a Canadian geologist, explorer and historian, and the son of the late George C. Tyrrell and Dora M. Joslin Tyrrell.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret B. Tyrrell; two daughters, Anne K.M. Tyrrell of Norfolk and Diana J.B. Tyrrell Suchla; a son, Joseph D.G. Tyrrell; a sister, Katherine Tyrrell Stewart; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the chapel of H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk chapel, by the Rev. Margery Howell. The family will receive friends and family in the chapel one hour prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a Parkinson's disease foundation or to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com.