Weintraub's legacy

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“Western civilization won’t end with the passing of Karl Joachim Weintraub, but you could be hard-pressed to prove that to a legion of his former students,” the Chicago Tribune wrote last week. Weintraub, AB’49, AM’52, PhD’57, died of a brain tumor March 25 at the University’s Bernard Mitchell Hospital. At age 79, the Thomas E. Donnelley distinguished service professor emeritus in History had spent nearly 60 years as a Chicago student, professor, and mentor. His Western Civilization course was so popular that College students famously camped on the quads the night before registration to secure a place. Known as compassionate and approachable, Weintraub, who also taught in the Committee on Social Thought, the Committee on the History of Culture, and the Humanities Division, earned two Quantrell Awards for excellence in teaching, among other honors. He is survived by his wife, Katy O’Brien Weintraub, AB’75, AM’76, PhD’87, and a sister. A University memorial service is being planned.

For more on Weintraub’s life and accomplishments, see the University Chronicle or Associated Press articles.

A.M.B.

April 2, 2004