Obituary: Wilfried Malsch, professor emeritus of German
Wilfried Malsch, 88, of Amherst, professor emeritus of German, died March 12.
Bornin Karlsruhe am Rhein in Germany, he was captured by American troops in Natuno, Italy, during World War II. As a prisoner of war in Alabama and later in Pennsylvania he developed his love and respect for America as a place of tremendous change and endless hope.
A constant thread throughout his life from then on was both his fear of economic depression that led to Fascism in Germany and his hatred of war in general. He actively campaigned against the rearming of Germany and welcomed the development of the European Union.
He received his doctorate from the University of Freiburg and habilitated at the University of Tuebingen, entitling him as a full professor. After shorter appointments at the Rice University and at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, he became a professor of German in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures in 1971. He retired in 1996 at age 71.
He leaves his wife, Sally, his daughter Elisabeth of Manhattan and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 18 at 11 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 867 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, with a reception to follow. Burial will be private.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 18 at 11 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 867 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, with a reception to follow. Burial will be private.
Article Type:
Date:
Friday, March 15, 2013
