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In Memoriam | Summer/Fall 2022

In Memoriam: Faculty & Friends

Notices sorted by graduation date

Paul Cantor of Charlottesville died Feb. 25, 2022. During his 45 years as a professor in UVA’s English department, he taught an estimated 10,000 students. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he earned a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from Harvard University and was an assistant professor of English there before joining the UVA faculty in 1977. Known for his scholarly approach to pop culture and literature, he taught courses in Shakespeare, tragedy, romanticism, the literature of empire and the literature of science in recent years. He was a prolific writer and media critic and published several books and essays on a wide range of subjects, including The Simpsons, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Austrian economics, postcolonial novels and contemporary popular culture. The Los Angeles Times named his book Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization one of the best nonfiction books of 2001. He also published extensively on Shakespeare, including three books. At UVA, he most recently served as the Clifton Waller Barrett Professor of English. Former student Peter Hufnagel (Col ’04) told UVA Today that he “elevated his students and gave them confidence in their studies and in their lives.” He is survived by his brother, Donald Ochacher.


Louis Dean Dubrosky of Mequon, Wisconsin, died March 14, 2022. Mr. Dubrosky worked as a systems analyst in UVA’s bursar’s office for 10 years, creating the first Integrated Student Information System for the University. Wherever he visited in Charlottesville, he made friends with everyone he met. Survivors include two daughters, JoAnn Marcon (Nurs ’85 CM) and Judy Dubrosky (Col ’91 CM); son-in-law Mark Marcon (Col ’84 CM); and two grandsons.


Lester A. Hoel of San Francisco died April 19, 2022. One of the world’s foremost authorities on public transportation, he came to UVA from Carnegie Mellon University in 1974 and chaired the Department of Civil Engineering from 1974 to 1989. He held the Hamilton Professorship in Civil Engineering from 1974 to 1999 and was later the L.A. Lacy Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Engineering. A prolific and influential writer, he wrote hundreds of papers and co-authored several popular textbooks. His research led to safer, more sustainable transportation systems. He was elected a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, one of 200 among more than 150,000. Passionate about music, particularly classical and country, he loved the violin and could play virtually any song by ear. He practiced yoga and meditation each morning and was an accomplished tennis player. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Unni; daughters Sonja Hoel Perkins (Com ’88 CM), Lisa Hoel Rafael (Nurs ’88 CM) and Julie Bryan; and four grandchildren.