click here to see Jacques Hyman's Curriculum Vita

Professor of History Jacques L. Hymans, a member of the faculty for more than 30 years, died of heart failure Dec. 29, 1999 at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.  He was 62 years of age.

Hymans, an authority on world history, European imperialism and ancient African civilizations, served for more than 20 years as faculty advisor to the honors society for history students.  He also had been president and secretary for the university's Phi Beta Kappa chapter and had received an award for distinguished service earlier this year.

Hymans was a pioneer teacher and researcher in the academic field of African History.  "Jacques Hymans was not only an expert on the history of Africa, he was a force of nature," said Jerald A. Combs, chair of the history department.  "He was the most energetic and enthusiastic teacher I have ever met.  He was also one of the kindest.  His passing leaves an immense hole in the department and the university."

Hymans earned his doctorate in history in 1964 from the University of Paris. His doctoral thesis was later published as the book "Leopold Sedar Senghor: An Intellectual Biography," one of the earliest serious academic treatments of a major African thinker.

In recent years, Hymans had become an advocate of the use of new media in historical scholarship. He worked with a group of students to produce a short documentary on the life of Senghor titled "A Bridge of Sweetness," which was presented at a recent meeting of the World History Association.

Donations may be made to the Lowell High School Alumni Association, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132.  A campus memorial program was held in early January.