Professor remembered after long battle with cancer

Albert Wertheim, professor of English and comparative literature and adjunct professor of theatre and drama, died at his home Wednesday. He was 62.\nWertheim has been battling cancer for several years but continued to teach and wrote two books since the diagnosis. \nFriends and colleagues remember Wertheim as a generous and kind individual who went out of his way to help people. \n"He was a terrific guy -- one of the most generous, thoughtful people I've ever met," said English Department chair Stephen Watt. "He was a funny and clever kind of guy, almost with an impish sense of humor."\nWertheim was an acclaimed educator, who was honored as 2002 Continuing Educator of the Year by the Continuing Education Association of Indiana. He also received the 1998 IU all-University John W. Ryan Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Programs & Studies. \n"Albert's particular interest was in continuing education for non-traditional students such as senior citizens," Watt said.\nWertheim led numerous tours to Indianapolis and Louisville theaters, with the bus becoming a classroom, Watt said. Jeanne Madison who worked with Wertheim on continuing education programs said that the tours were a unique educational experience of having a portable classroom situation for adults. Wertheim would take senior citizens from Monroe County to see a play. He would lecture about the playwright before the production and lead a discussion afterward.\n"I definitely feel a loss both personally and professionally because Albert was a tremendous supporter of life-long learning," Madison said. "His contributions to Mini University and the life-long learning program cannot be matched."\nWertheim has a personal connection with the IU School of Continuing Education -- his wife Judith is the Executive Associate Dean of the school. \nWertheim's home department was English, but he taught classes in the department of theatre and drama as well.\n"He has been interested in theater all of his adult life, if not longer, I believe," said professor Ronald Wainscott, chair of the theatre and drama department.\nWertheim taught at IU since the 1960s. In fact, Wainscott remembers taking a class with him as a graduate student in the '70s.\nWertheim is the author of "The Dramatic Art of Athol Fugard: From South Africa to the World" and contributed many of the drama articles in The World Book Encyclopedia. He recently completed a book on American drama and World War II. \nIn addition to being a celebrated teacher, Wertheim held fellowships from the Folger Library, the Newberry Library, the Australian government, the Eli Lilly Foundation, and the German Exchange Service (DAAD). He has been a visiting professor at the Universitaet Hamburg in Germany and in 1995 became a Fellow of the Institute for Study of English in Africa at Rhodes University in South Africa, according to the theatre and drama department's Web site.\nWertheim has served as Treasurer and Executive Board Member of the American Society for Theatre Research, President of the Eugene O'Neill Society and executive council member of the Harold Pinter Society. At the time of his death, Wertheim served as associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies on the Bloomington campus. In the past, Wertheim served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. \nBecause of his administrative appointment, Wertheim taught only one class this semester -- L220: Introduction to Shakespeare.\nHe became ill immediately after spring break and spent some time in the hospital. He came home Monday and passed away there Wednesday. \nHis funeral will take place at 3 p.m. today at Temple Beth Shalom, 3750 E. 3rd St. For more information about the funeral, call 334-2440. The English Department will announce details about a memorial service early next week.