In Celebration of Norman K. Denzin: Scholar,Teacher,Mentor,and Friend

“Our project is to change society, not just interpret or write about it.”

—Norman K. Denzin

Where to begin?

On the morning of August 6, 2023, I received a text message from Norman’s spouse, Katherine Ryan, who conveyed that Norman was resting comfortably but was close to the end of life; a second text a few hours later confirmed his passing.

No.

His passing was a shock to the system, though given his health concerns over the last few years—and previous few months in particular—not entirely unforeseen.

Just not . . . yet.

I had been doing some landscaping in the front yard, pulling out weeds and putting down mulch, when I received the second text. I threw the trowel I had in my hand down at the ground, hard, where it stuck in the damp soil. I sat down in the garage on the cold concrete, numb. Despite all that was going on with his health, we were still in quite regular email contact about the status of manuscripts in the journals, organizational items for the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI), and navigating various book projects. ¹ Just a few days earlier, he had sent me a note checking in after my wife had had a surgical procedure (which, it turned out, was the last email I would receive from him).

Numb.

Later that day, once news of Norman’s passing had become public via a social media post made by the Institute of Communications Research (ICR) at the University of Illinois, where Norman had been a faculty member for so many years, I posted news of Norman’s passing on Twitter, along with a screenshot of ICR’s announcement (see Figure 1), which stated:

OPEN IN VIEWER

Figure 1.

Social media announcement of Norman’s passing.

In response, colleagues near and far posted their own brief notes, tweets, and retweets across the Twittersphere—a mixture of admiration, respect, and heartbreak, including:

Absolutely tragic. Very few, if any, academics I know gave so much, to so many, while asking so little in return. Heartbreaking. (Joshua I. Newman)

RIP—a qualitative legend who leaves a huge legacy. My thoughts go out to all his friends and family. A huge loss. (Brett Smith)

A giant of research with the heart of a teacher. The idea that his booming voice won’t fill an Illini classroom and shape the next generation of scholars is heartbreaking. Thank you NKD for your legacy and example. (Jennifer L. Metz)

A genuinely great human being. Devastating loss. (Ryan King-White)

A very, very sad day—a deeply respected man of great integrity, and so much more . . . RIP Norman. (Jacquelyn Allen-Collinson)

Very sad to hear of Norman Denzin’s passing—a great, open and expansive mind . . . he never stopped thinking beyond the limits of methodological conformism. (Les Back)

We have lost an inspiring giant of qualitative research, a gifted writer, organizer, and teacher. I’m so saddened that Norman Denzin has passed. He will be terribly missed. (Robert V. Kozinets)

My PhD supervisor has passed. He was an intellectual giant and a caring person and a true vulnerable storyteller that instigated others to tell their stories. Totally radically, fiercely controversial in the 1990s. Need a good cry. (Paula Saukko)

Oh how tragic. RIP Norman Denzin (of the Denzin and Lincoln “qualitative bible” fame). Absolute giant academically. One of the early pioneers who put qualitative research on the map. I’ll dig out some of his papers and thread them here. (Trish Greenhalgh)

De beste blir også gamle, men ikke udødelige. Utgjorde helt klart en forskjell. (John-Arne Skolbekken)

Sus increíbles textos y manuales nos han ayudado mucho para aprender y mejorar en el campo de la investigación cualitativa. Que descanse en paz Norman Denzin. (Erick Galán-Castro)

Norman Denzin vefat etmiş. Sayısız çalışmasıyla çok etkili biriydi. İlerleyen yaşına rağmen dergi editörlüğü yapıyor oluşuna çok şaşırmıştım. Bir kere mailleşmiştik. Zarif üslubu, tevazusu, yönlendiriciliği çok etkileyici ve düşündürücüydü. (Güzin Ağca-Varoğlu)

Gutted to learn of the passing of Norman Denzin. He was an inspiration, touchstone, and guide for so many. (Center for Qualitative Research, University of Bath, UK)

A great, great man who supported and inspired so many to find their voice as researchers. Thanks for everything, Norman. (Body, Movement, and Culture Research Group, University of Alberta, Canada)

We are sad to share the news that the qualitative legend Prof. Norman Denzin has passed away. He created many spaces for sport and exercise scholars to flourish across the globe. Thank you, Norman Denzin. (International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise)

We at Myers Education Press are saddened to learn of the passing of Norman K. Denzin, PhD—our author, series editor, and dear friend. He will truly be missed. Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time. (Myers Education Press).

Sage is saddened by the loss of sociologist Norman K. Denzin, “the father of qualitative research” (Sage Publishing).

In the weeks and months that followed, formal tributes began to appear as various journals and scholarly associations published editorials or otherwise recognized his accomplishments and joined in mourning our collective loss. Across (at least) eight largely different disciplines, we witnessed the following words of remembrance:

In Qualitative Health Research, editor Julianne Cheek was joined by Mitchell Allen, César Cisneros-Puebla, and Joy Pierce in remembering his contributions to health research, especially regarding diversity, social justice, equality, and community-based research practices (see Cheek et al., 2023).

In the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, editor Jim Scheurich (2023)—who put forth that “Norman did more to validate and support qualitative research, across all academic disciplines, than anyone in the last few decades” (p. 1912)—gathered a few of Norman’s close friends to comment on his passing as part of an editorial obituary, where, among others, James Salvo (2023, p. 1915) wrote of the “methodological peace” Norman sought and Robert E. Rinehart (2023, p. 1920) reflected on Norman as “a down-home, folksy, accessible intellectual genius.”

In Qualitative Social Work, editor Lisette M. Piedra (2023) detailed Norman’s early, legitimizing contributions to that journal (see, e.g., Denzin, 2002), writing “His diverse contributions reflect a profound dedication to generating knowledge, a commitment that not only reshaped the academic terrain but also revealed a deep compassion for humanity” (p. 1051). Commemorative essays by Jane F. Gilgun (2023) and Karen M. Staller (2023) also appeared in the same issue as Piedra’s editorial.

Lonnie Athens (2023) wrote a moving eulogy that was published on the website of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction, another one of Norman’s intellectual homespaces.

At the annual conference of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) in November 2023, a memorial statement was read in his honor at the Saturday luncheon; it was noted that he had directly mentored (i.e., major professor, dissertation committee member, etc.) at least 21 scholars in NASSS, including five of its former Presidents and two past editors of its flagship journal.

In Helsinki, Finland at the 7th European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry in January 2024, Norman’s impact on the community of qualitative researchers was featured during the opening conference welcome.

At the 2024 International Association of Autoethnography and Narrative Inquiry conference, a memorial spotlight panel titled “Remembering Norman K. Denzin” was held that featured several of Norman’s former doctoral students. ²

At The Qualitative Report’s 15th annual conference, held in March 2024, Norman’s impact and legacy was featured at length in the opening keynote address.

And, of course, at the 2024 International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry—Norman’s home—a memorial session was held in May featuring Memorial Addresses by Patti Lather, Maria Mayan, and Anjali Forber-Pratt, a Memorial Performance by Bryant Keith Alexander, Daniel X. Harris, and Tami Spry, as well as a welcome from Elder Knowledge-Keeper Joseph Naytowhow. ³

And the list of memories and formal tributes most assuredly goes on and on, for his reach extended deep into the humanities and social sciences, whether in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australasia, or Africa.

With Qualitative Inquiry, the journal Norman founded with Yvonna Lincoln some 30 years ago—and which he was still actively editing at the time of his passing—we wanted to do something on a larger scale, albeit one that would take longer to put into print. To wit, I reached out to dozens of Norman’s friends, colleagues, former students, and collaborators ⁴ with this simple request:

As we mourn the passing of our dear friend Norman, I want to make available space in Qualitative Inquiry for any of you who might wish to contribute a remembrance, critical or personal perspective, or any other format addressing Norman’s contributions to the field, to your personal/professional development, impact on scholarship or anything else along these (or other) lines. They can be brief, 500-1000 words, or more if you need.

Twenty-five of Norman’s long-time friends took up the offer, with many others declining because they were not yet ready to engage with their loss—or were simply at a loss for words for how to even start writing about him in the past tense. In addition, an article he co-authored with Tami Spry, titled “Hard Rain,” which was in production at the time of his passing, has been included in this issue, ⁵ along with an interview Andrew F. Hermann, Tony E. Adams, and Sara B. Dykins Callahan had previously conducted with Norman. Norman’s formal obituary is also appended to the end of this editorial introduction.

It is noteworthy that contributors crisscross numerous disciplines and interdisciplinary histories, including sociology, communications, cultural studies, performance studies, education, philosophy, music, gender/women’s studies, and kinesiology—for Norman’s contributions did not remain in one silo or another. His “big tent” approach to qualitative inquiry—developed over nearly 50 years as a professor and another 10 years in “retirement” (during which time he was likely even more prolific in his scholarly work than before, balancing numerous journals, book projects, and organizing ICQI)—was not one of empty words but of impactful action and results.

In a recent festschrift to Norman, edited by Shing-Ling S. Chen for Studies in Symbolic Interaction, I wrote the following passage in the introductory essay, from which I will steal and relay again:

There is a website called academictree.org that serves as a sort of (incomplete) “family tree” database chronicling the links between major scholars and their students. On this site, Norman is listed as one of Carl Couch’s children (which would make Manford Kuhn his academic grandparent ⁶ ). Intellectually, all the contributors to this volume are in some way Norman’s academic brothers, sisters, or children—a family tree spanning too many branches to count over the roughly 60 years he has been in academia. And some of us he has considered as if were his actual children. (Giardina, 2022, p. 9)

The same stands for contributors to this memorial special issue.

***

Norman was many things to the global community of qualitative researchers. It is difficult to encapsulate his contributions in the space of any one text or even a special issue of a journal. Staller (2023), however, was on the right track when she outlined five ideas that she believed gave insight to Norman as a scholar organizer: (1) he “took bold action in the face of paralyzing situations”; he (2) “repeatedly carved out academic spaces in which others could not only participate but flourish”; (3) he “continually challenged normative academic views about what counted as valuable”; (4) he “believed in the transformational power of qualitative inquiry”; and (5) his “moral compass was set on creating inclusive, compassionate, and socially just communities” (p. 1071).

All five of these ideas ring true as someone who knew him and collaborated with him for roughly 25 years. But to Staller’s list, I would add the following, for important as it is to remember his scholarly contributions it is far more important that we not lose sight of Norman the person, a glimpse of which shows he:

Loved jazz music and Bob Dylan.

Was unabashedly a fan of famous sports coaches like Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Joe Torre, and Bill Belichick, and got a kick out of people often mistaking him for former NBA coach Don Nelson during the early 2000s.

Developed a lasting iconic look of a black button-down shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals that would make Steve Jobs proud.

Rode his bike everywhere on campus, even in the harshest Midwest winter conditions (“ice biking,” as he called it).

Relished fishing in the pond behind his house and in the streams by the family cabin in Montana.

Did I mention the jazz music? ⁷

Talked endlessly about his children and grandchildren—and loved spending time with them watching them grow and flourish.

And loved and cared deeply for Katherine.

Norman’s legacy and our memories of him will live on forever in our hearts and minds. His books and papers will continue to influence the next generation of qualitative researchers (and the generations to follow). The International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry will continue to evolve and live up to the promise Norman set for it. And the journals that he founded and continued to edit until his passing will maintain the commitment to pushing qualitative inquiry forward into the future.

As Norman was fond of saying, “Onward!”

Michael D. Giardina

Editor, Qualitative Inquiry

***

Obituary ⁸

Norman K. Denzin, PhD, 82, of Urbana, Illinois, passed away peacefully and in the comfort of his family on Sunday, August 6, 2023. Norman was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his spouse, Katherine Ryan, as well as his daughters, Johanna Denzin (Steve) and Rachel Denzin (Craig). His four grandchildren include Sylvia, Naomi, Max, and Owen. He also leaves one stepson, Nathan Summers (Karen), and three step-grandchildren, Katie, Tara, and Orion. He will be missed by many.

As a boy, he cheered for Mickey Mantle and the New York Yankees, and he and his brother Mark visited his grandparents on the farm. He loved telling his children and grandchildren that he rode a horse named “Sunny” to school. He lettered in multiple sports in high school and then went on to attend the University of Iowa. There he immersed himself in the humanities and social sciences, taking a triple major in English, philosophy, and sociology, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1963 and—influenced by the American sociologist C. Wright Mills, as well his own engagements with existentialist philosophy and post-World War II literature—a PhD in sociology in 1966.

After teaching at the University of Illinois and the University of California-Berkeley from 1966 to 1970, he returned to the University of Illinois in 1971, where he remained until his retirement in 2012. During that time, he established himself as one of the world’s foremost authorities on qualitative research, starting with his first book, The Research Act: A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods (Denzin, 1970), which was an attempt to understand what happens if you look at methodologies from a particular or competing theoretical framework. Thereafter, he made major contributions to the fields of symbolic interactionism, social psychology, poststructuralism, and postmodernism with a range of books, including On Understanding Emotion (Denzin, 1984), Interpretive Interactionism (Denzin, 1989) and Images of Postmodern Society (Denzin, 1991).

In the mid-1990s, his work on research methods resulted in the publication of the groundbreaking Handbook of Qualitative Research (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994), which he co-edited with Yvonna Lincoln and which radically changed the face of qualitative research throughout the world; the sixth edition of this Handbook was published earlier this year (Denzin et al., 2023). He subsequently founded a number of scholarly journals, such as Qualitative Inquiry and International Review of Qualitative Research, for which he served as editor until his passing.

In 2005, he founded the Illinois Institute of Qualitative Inquiry, and served for nearly two decades as the Director of its International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (an annual conference held at the University of Illinois that draws more than 1,000 attendees). Over the next 18 years, he co-edited more than 20 books with his frequent writing partner, Michael Giardina, all on the broad topic of qualitative inquiry. At the same time, he wrote a trilogy of books on the American West, including Searching for Yellowstone: Race, Gender, Family, and Memory in the Postmodern West (Denzin, 2008), as well as interventions into performance studies with books on performance ethnography and autoethnography. At the time of his passing, Norman was still actively engaged in research and writing.

Norman was a dreamer, a visionary, a utopian. For all of his scholarly achievements, he did not define himself in such terms. As he wrote in one of his books, he saw himself as an ancestor, husband, grandson, uncle, father, grandfather, friend, colleague, co-worker, community member, mentor, justice activist, antiracist, inclusive global citizen, and more. If you were to call Norman at his office, he would likely answer with soft jazz music playing in the background. If you saw him on campus, he was likely riding his bicycle to and from the office—even on the coldest of days. His likely attire? A black short-sleeved button-down shirt, tan cargo shorts, and Birkenstock sandals—an absolutely iconic look to all who knew him. His one-word emails carried the weight of the lengthiest of notes, a simple “lovely” or an “Onward!” bringing a smile to those who received them. And he loved conversations about research, politics, movies, sports, and family over cups of chili at Potbelly’s, warm goat cheese salads at his favorite restaurant (Timpone’s), or coffee on his backyard deck.

A private family memorial was held on August 12, 2023; Norman’s ashes will be scattered in Montana, where he frequently vacationed with his family at their cabin in Red Lodge, and where he will rest forever in peace among the trails he hiked and streams he fished with his grandchildren.