Obituary of John Walter Osborne

John Walter Osborne, 91, of Ivoryton, Connecticut, passed away on January 2^nd, 2019.  He was an internationally recognized authority on British history.  He was born in 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Douglas W. and Gertrude A. Osborne.  In 1958 he married Frances Patricia Hannon.  She survives him as does their son, David J. Osborne.  John Osborne lived in New Jersey for over sixty years before moving to Ivoryton in 1994. Osborne received B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University and was Professor of History at Rutgers University when he retired in 1993 with the rank of Professor Emeritus.  Most of his more than 150 publications, including five books, focus on Great Britain, but others reflect his wide intellectual interests.  At Rutgers, Osborne taught graduate courses in British history and undergraduate courses in both British and European history.  In 1988 Rutgers presented him with the Henry Browne Award for excellence in teaching. He often visited Manhattan’s museums, art galleries, and bookstores.  For many years he was a member of The Lotos Club there and served on the club’s Literary Committee.  His admiration of traditional European culture was shared by his wife, and their frequent trips abroad enabled them to visit almost every European country.  Osborne thoroughly enjoyed his life as a teacher and scholar.  In retirement, he occasionally wrote articles and book reviews, and he participated in reading groups at the Essex Library.  He attended Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Essex, Connecticut. To share a memory of John or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangement by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.