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Virtual book of condolence

Leipzig mourns the loss of Crister Garrett

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On 6 March 2019, Professor Crister Garrett, who had worked at – and decisively influenced – the Institute for American Studies at Leipzig University since 2003, passed away. Garrett was 56 years old. “The University is deeply saddened. With Crister Garrett, we lose one of our most popular and widely known professors far too soon. I personally held him in very high regard, both professionally and for his human qualities. My sympathies go out to his family, especially his wife and daughters,” says Rector Professor Beate Schücking.

Amerikanistik-Professor Crister S. Garrett
Professor of American Studies Crister S. Garrett. Photo: Institute for American Studies

In a detailed obituary, the Faculty of Philology honours its Vice-Dean Crister Garrett as “a great colleague, a good friend and an excellent scholar”. Dean Professor Beat Siebenhaar and Garrett’s colleagues write: "Professor Garrett was particularly committed to the interdisciplinary, international and practice-oriented nature of our courses of study, consistently embodying these ideals in his own practice as a university lecturer. (...) One of Professor Garrett’s central concerns was the internationalisation of the Institute and the wider University as well as enhancing the dialogue between academia, practice and the public. (...) He built up partnerships with Central and Eastern European universities and made many important contributions to the Transatlantic Dialogue.”

After consulting with the Faculty, we have set up a virtual book of condolence. You are cordially invited to leave a message. Garrett’s family is also collecting donations for a Crister Stephen Garrett Scholarship.