KU community remembers longtime Spanish language professor Arnold Weiss

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas community is remembering a former faculty member who served the university for 30 years.

Arnold Weiss, professor emeritus in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese, died July 22 in Lawrence at age 101.

“Professor Weiss lived a long and remarkable life, which included 30 years of service to the University of Kansas,” said Douglas A. Girod, KU chancellor. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they mourn his passing.”

Before his retirement from KU in 1986, Weiss was a member of the faculty in the Spanish and Portuguese department and a dean of graduate studies. In the early 1960s he was the first director of the KU summer program in Barcelona, Spain.

In retirement, he was an active member of the university’s Endacott Society and a docent at the Spencer Museum of Art.

“The faculty of the School of Languages, Literatures & Cultures is saddened to learn of the passing of Emeritus Associate Professor Arnold Weiss, who contributed to the long-standing prestige of the Department of Spanish & Portuguese and gave generously of his time in retirement to the enrichment of the KU community,” said Marc Greenberg, director of the school. “We are grateful for his many valuable contributions, and we send our heartfelt condolences to his family and colleagues.”

Private services are taking place at Pioneer Cemetery on the Lawrence campus. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.