John Updike: A Little Personal Insight

Here's an interesting little personal insight snippet from my hometown--Ron Shafer is a friend who used to be in my home church there.

IUP professor got Updike to come to Kittanning

By Patrick Shuster, LEADER TIMES
Wednesday, January 28, 2009

John Updike, one of the most well-known authors of modern times, spent only a few days in Kittanning in 1992, but his visit turned out to be a very significant moment in literary history.

North Buffalo resident and English professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Ronald Shafer, played host to the author during his visit more than a dozen years ago and said it was one he will never forget.

Updike died Tuesday of lung cancer at 76. He was best known for his "Rabbit" series of stories.

"He was speaking at the College English Association conference in Pittsburgh and I thought it would be great to have him come and speak at the Kittanning IUP campus, as well as Kittanning High School," Shafer said. "Little did I know that the one and only workshop he ever give would be turned into a documentary that is known the world over."

Shafer said that during Updike's stay in Kittanning, he spent time playing basketball in his family's driveway and said that later Updike was heard saying that he wished there had been video footage of the backyard hoops in the documentary. Shafer filmed Updike and his sons playing basketball at his house. Updike's main character in his "Rabbit" series, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, was an avid basketball player.

Updike, a Shillington, Pa. native, always seemed to have a soft spot for his home state, Shafer said, and seemed to reflect that during his trip to Kittanning.

"In his book "Licks of Love" he speaks of a small town along the Allegheny River, north of Pittsburgh," he said. "He said he was staggered by the beauty of the town when he saw it from the bluffs in West Kittanning."

Shafer said he remains a follower of Updike's work and still looks at the photographs and video of the time he spent at his home.

"It was just like it was yesterday," Shafer said. "It's very humbling to be able to have spent time with such a literary giant."