Arthur Grugan

Arthur Grugan, first son of John Grugan and Margaret Mary Grugan (McGonigle) died on July 6, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.  He is survived by his wife Kathleen Grugan; his siblings John, Margaret, James, Edwin, and Maryann; his children John, Patrick, Cara, Timothy (deceased), Elizabeth, and Terence; and his grandchildren Ethan, Emma, Liam, Maggie, Julia, Samantha, Gabriella, Elianna, Timothy, and Aisling. 

Arthur was born on December 6, 1944.  He grew up in the Schuylkill section of Philadelphia, graduating from Bishop John Neumann High School.  He then completed his undergraduate degree at LaSalle University, and his PhD in philosophy at Duquesne University, where he met the love of his life, Kathleen Grugan.  He studied for 2 years on a Fulbright scholarship with Martin Heidegger at the University of Freiburg, then began working at Holy Family University, where he taught philosophy for 49 years.  He also taught philosophy and medical ethics at various institutions in the Philadelphia area.

In addition to his teaching, he made significant contributions to the philosophical literature, publishing 24 original articles, translations, reviews and editorships in philosophical journals, as well as over 50 invited lectures.  He also studied and wrote about aesthetics and the philosophy of art extensively, with a particular emphasis on the Impressionists.  As if all that weren’t enough, he also got a law degree and entered the Pennsylvania Bar in 2001.

Beyond the biographical details, his sense of humor, his intellect, his life’s work at Holy Family University, and what he loved were a few of the things that made him who he was. 

Art’s sense of humor was deadpan, subtle, and layered.  He didn’t mind busting your chops if the situation warranted.  He cultivated a kind of comedic persona as a beleaguered man, constantly leading to water horses that just wouldn’t ever drink, and he played this persona to the laughter and groans of his family. 

Art was really, really smart.  But it wasn’t a high-and-mighty kind of smart.  He spoke fluent German and fluent Schuylkill-ese.  He didn’t use his massive intellect to try to put himself above others, as he did not like a bigshot.  Instead, he used it to clarify what is good, beautiful, and true, and to introduce generations of students to philosophy.

Holy Family was a place where Art really seemed to come alive.  He relished a place that allowed him to teach, make jokes, pursue knowledge, and build lifelong friendships.  Here he could be a mentor, an advocate, a thinker, and a friend, and he did so for decades.  He was committed to lifting up students who grew up in places like he did, giving them opportunities and support to explore the vast world of ideas.

Art Grugan loved a lot of things, things you wouldn’t necessarily think went together but turn out to enrich each other.  He loved the literature of Seamus Heaney, WB Yeats, and especially James Joyce, but he also loved “Columbo.”  He loved The New Yorker magazine and batting cages, Existential Phenomenology and Diet Coke.  He loved all things German: German Romanticism, Der Blaue Reiter art, Friedrich Hölderlin’s poetry.  But most of all he loved Kathy Grugan, without question, without cease.  He loved her so much he married her twice, and would have married her a third time if he got the chance. 

Art liked to quote his Uncle Frank, saying “when you live, live in clover.”  We hope you got at least a decent portion of clover.  We will miss you terribly, and we are all so grateful to have gotten to be part of your life.  Sit tibi terra levís. 

Relatives and friends are invited to a Visitation 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the Logan-Videon Funeral Home, 2001 Sproul Road, Broomall, PA  19008 and 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. on Friday, July 10, 2026 at the Holy Family University Education and Technology Auditorium, 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA  19114 followed by his Funeral Mass at 12:00 P.M.  Interment immediately following at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.