James Hawkins Craiglow

James “Jim” Hawkins Craiglow, a revered educator, devoted husband, loving father, and lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan, died on November 7, 2024 at his home in Fairfield, CT at the age of 82. Over his long career he instilled a love of learning in the countless students whose lives he touched — as a high school teacher, an athletic coach, and in his nearly 30-year tenure as an administrator at Antioch University, from which he retired as Chancellor in 2005.

Jim was known for his sparkling blue eyes and warm smile, his effortless charm, his dedication to every community he was a part of, his enduring love of baseball, his enthusiastic collection of pre-WWII tin toys, and his nostalgia for the early days of rock n’ roll. 

Born on November 21, 1941 in Harrisburg, PA to James, Sr. and Jeannette (née Sweeney), Jim was a naturally gifted athlete who loved and played many sports but reserved a special passion for baseball, in which he saw a throughline of the values he held most dear: community and family connection, racial and social justice, and the ideals and promise of America. A talented pitcher, he played on a team that was in the 1953 Little League World Series. There was no greater Philadelphia Phillies fan in the world, and during his childhood he would often go with his father to see them play. As an adult he rarely missed a game on the radio or television. Among the highlights of his decades of devotion were to sit in the announcer booth and call an inning of a game on the radio, and in 2022 going with his three daughters to see his team play in the World Series. His love of baseball extended to an unsurpassed command of statistics, trivia, and an expansive knowledge of the history of early baseball leagues. In every home he had, there was always a display of vintage paraphernalia — rare baseball cards, antique leather gloves, and signed baseballs.

Jim attended Camp Hill High School in Harrisburg, PA, a place he returned to many times as the beloved emcee of class reunions. He was a graduate of Lafayette College where he studied history and played baseball and basketball until a knee injury ended his college sports career. He also had a college radio show where, using the playful DJ moniker “Cool Cat Craiglow,” he spun doo-wop tunes. 

He began his career in education teaching in elementary and high schools where he taught history and coached basketball. His exposure to rural poverty among his students awakened in him a commitment to teaching as a tool to advance social justice and opportunity. As the director of a racially diverse summer camp he quickly embraced a commitment to racial justice. During the Civil Rights movement he was a frequent participant in demonstrations, leafleting campaigns, and teach-ins. Beginning in 1971, he spent seven years as the beloved head of the physical education department at The Emma Willard School, a girls’ boarding school in Troy, NY. There he taught physical education, coached many sports, and developed an outdoor living program.

Jim’s long affiliation with Antioch University began in 1976 when he enrolled in a weekend master’s program at its New England campus in Keene, NH, commuting from his home in Troy. After graduating with a degree in higher education administration in 1977, he moved to Keene to lead admissions for Antioch New England’s progressive education program. Quickly adding to his responsibilities, Jim held various administrative roles at Antioch New England, becoming Provost and President from 1986 to 2002. Receiving honors throughout his career, including the title of President Emeritus at Antioch University New England, he championed the underserved, was an advocate for strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and the business community, and was committed to expanding access to education through non-traditional programming.

In 2002, almost immediately after Antioch honored him with a large and festive retirement party following his 16 years as president of the New England campus, he was asked to step in as Chancellor of the five-campus nation-wide University. Honored by the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Antioch’s founder Horace Mann, and driven by his signature loyalty, Jim set aside his plans to slow down, spend more time with family, and work on a novel — and helmed the school until a permanent Chancellor could be selected.

In Keene, it was nearly impossible for Jim to walk down a street without being stopped by a friend, neighbor, or colleague wanting to talk about sports, the bitter New England winter, or the good work of the organizations he was involved with. He loved the daily rituals of life — going for the morning paper, grilling dinner in the backyard, and, with his wife Shelley, visiting favorite antique shops looking for heirloom toys and vintage baseball cards or playing Scrabble. He was a deeply committed member of the Keene community, serving on the boards of directors of Monadnock Developmental Services, Stonewall Farm, Monadnock United Way, and the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce. 

As a father, Jim was always encouraging a love of learning in his three daughters. He was fond of leading a dinnertime game he called “True/False, Multiple Choice, Fill-in- the-Blank, or Essay?” He shared with his children a love of the outdoors and could often be found throwing a ball or attending a game with his grandchildren. Jim was a man of thrift who dutifully taught his daughters how to repair a bike, oil a baseball glove, and regularly polish their shoes. 

A favorite quote of Jim’s came from Horace Mann’s final commencement address at Antioch College in 1859: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Indeed, Jim lived his life such that there could be no question of his many contributions, and those left behind feel nothing but pride and a commitment to carrying on his legacy. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 43 years, Shelley (née Whittier); daughters Alison, Hilary, and Brittany Craiglow; son-in-law Brett King; and grandchildren Zoë, Olivia, Zachary, Ava, Ajax, Arlo, and Tad. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Regan.

A celebration of his life will take place in the coming months.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Jim's name to one of the following charities: Hundred Nights Shelter, Monadnock Developmental Services, Stonewall Farm.