 He married Marilyn Gaddis Rose in 1968.He spent the rest of his teaching career in Binghamton where he helped create two interdisciplinary PhD programs, one in Philosophy, Literature, and the Theory of Criticism in the Department of Comparative Literature, the second in Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture (PIC), located first in the Department of Philosophy, later becoming an independent program.He was appointed Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture and of Comparative Literature in 2006.