Leonard Norman Primiano, 1957 – 2021

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Leonard Primiano on July 25th, 2021. A renowned folklorist and religious studies scholar, he was a beloved friend and mentor to many in our field.

Dr. Primiano was a professor of religious studies at Cabrini University where he taught courses in the history of Christianity, vernacular religion, religious folklife, sectarian religion and contemporary American religion. At the time of his passing he was co-convener of the Folk Belief and Religious Folklife Section of the American Folklore Society. Primiano held a dual doctorate in religious studies and folklore and folklife from the University of Pennsylvania, and his research focused on American vernacular, folk, and popular religion; religious material culture; and religion and the media, including Catholicism and television. For more details of his extensive accomplishments, visit his profile page on the Cabrini University website. To learn more about Dr. Primiano’s life, visit his online obituary.

To honor Dr. Primiano’s legacy, the Folk Belief and Religion Section of AFS has established a fund that will support prizes awarded by the section.