Alison I. Tasch

Alison I. Tasch passed away on March 24, 2024.

After immigrating from Scotland to the United States in the 1960s, Alison raised three children and various dogs with her husband Peter in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. Peter sadly pre-deceased Alison in 2010.

Alison had an adventurous spirit, beginning as a teenager. She set off hitchhiking with a friend through Europe while working in kitchens, orchards and hotels to support her travels, and hiking wherever the trail led.   She absorbed the language of whichever country she was in and delighted in learning about the people she met. 

After earning her master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh, Alison attended further graduate school at Harvard University. She studied comparative literature and was a librarian in Harvard’s Houghton Library. She had a special interest in verse translation and world literature.

She taught at Temple University in the 1970s, and proudly spent the rest of her career at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) until retiring at 73. While teaching at CCP, she was a union member who organized, picketed, and lobbied; chaired the English department; spearheaded curriculum development; and taught various courses including writing, poetry, literature and public speaking. She was also instrumental in the development of the CCP Learning Lab. She spoke fondly of co-teaching with her colleagues, whom she cherished.

Alison’s intellectual curiosity and academic dexterity extended from her father, the founding principal of the University of Dundee, Scotland, and her grandfather, the first professor of psychology in Scotland. But what Alison enjoyed most was meeting anyone with an interesting story, an eagerness to learn, a desire to help others, and a mutual disdain for hatred, racism, and divisive politics.

Alison was up for anything and enjoyed her diverse experiences. She loved hiking in the Wissahickon and spending time at the family house in upstate New York, where she kayaked and picked berries.  She enthusiastically recounted her later travels to Italy, China, the Orkney Islands, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Alaska, and Wyoming; taught at OLLIE; exercised at Journey’s Way; and most recently, met new people while “Aquafitting” and teaching poetry at Cathedral Village.  

Alison lived on a special block in Germantown, filled with neighbors who were diverse, kind, and creative. These progressive families were peaceful protesters; raised children who played together; formed a babysitting co-op; advocated for the best interests of the neighborhood; and built lifelong friendships. She loved being a member of this wonderful community, and relished seeing kids grow up and new ones appear during her more than 50 cheerful years as one of the neighbors.

Alison was extremely proud of her three children, Jeremy, Kate, and Alex, and her two daughters-in-law, Michele and Weiwei. She is also survived by her brother Tim and his wife Irene, niece Anita and her husband Ken (and their son Zzyzx), and nephew Jim and his wife Melanie (and their sons James and Andrew). Her joie de vivre and positive outlook will be missed by many, but her wonderful spirit and enduring influence will continue to be felt by everyone who knew her.