Francis Loewenheim dies at age 69

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by Elizabeth Egle

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According to those who knew him, Loewenheim was a man totally devoted to Rice. Mary Kubricht, a personal friend of Loewenheim and Accounts Payable manager at Rice, said, "He considered his students and his colleagues his family and would give 150 percent to his students."

Loewenheim had not taught since 1991, but was known for being very demanding and assigning large amounts of work. Nevertheless, many students held him in high esteem.

John Boles, Cline Professor of History, said, "Many students, particularly in the early 1960s, considered him the finest teacher they ever had."

Loewenheim memorized his lectures and used a style that required student participation and discussion. Sometimes, he would add an unusual twist to a regular class. Ira Gruber, History professor and close friend, said Loewenheim "taught at night and would take his class to the [International] House of Pancakes and class would go on well into the night."

For the last 10 years of his life, Loewenheim was very involved with the graduate school and, according to those he taught, he made a significant impact on these students. Feske Victor, a former Rice graduate student, went on to dedicate a book to Loewenheim. Stephen Miner, who now teaches at Ohio University, credited Loewenheim when he was awarded the American Historical Prize.

Loewenheim was born in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1927. He came to America with his parents in 1934.

He attended the University of Cincinnati and received his doctorate from Columbia University.

After teaching at Princeton University, the College of William and Mary and the University of Illinois, he served a year in the Historical Division of the United States Department of State. Loewenheim came to Rice in 1959.

He contributed to many historical books and wrote articles for several magazines and newspapers. He wrote nearly 600 articles for some 50 newspapers in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

"He was very proud to have his works published," Kubricht said. At one point, Loewenheim was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

"He will be greatly missed," Kubricht said. " A great friend to the university has been lost."

This item appeared in the News section of the November 1, 1996 issue.

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