Irwin Weil, professor emeritus of Slavic languages and literatures at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, died on Jan. 30 in Evanston at the age of 97. A memorial service is scheduled for May 24 at Alice Millar Chapel.
Weil was a prominent figure in the Northwestern community for more than five decades. He joined the faculty in 1966 during the formation of the new department of Slavic languages and literatures and became known for his engaging courses on Russian literature, music, and history.
“Everyone who came into contact with him immediately recognized the passion and deep commitment with which he taught every student in his classroom. His legacy will endure through the students he taught, the colleagues he inspired and the many, many lives he touched throughout his time here,” said Interim President and President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen.
Weil’s Introduction to the Soviet Union course was especially popular among students. Known as a lifelong devotee of music, Weil would often perform Russian folk songs while playing guitar during class sessions. He also co-taught a course on Russian choral music with Professor Natalia Lyashenko until his retirement in 2018.
Adrian Randolph, dean of Weinberg College, said: “Professor Irwin Weil was a legendary educator, colleague and citizen of Weinberg College. Generations of Northwestern students benefited from his helping them grapple with weighty questions through the study of Russian literature and culture. He will be greatly missed.”
Among Weil’s former students is Ian Kelly ’79, former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia: “Irv Weil was the Caruso of lecturers… I met my future wife in one of his classes… there are now 10 more people in the world (four children and six grandchildren) because of him.”
Born in Cincinnati in 1928, Weil developed early interests in baseball—his father Sidney owned the Cincinnati Reds—music, theater, linguistics (earning degrees from University of Chicago), professional theater work off-Broadway before graduate studies at Harvard University led to an academic career including teaching at Brandeis prior to Northwestern.
He contributed to cultural exchanges between Russia and America by helping establish an American Studies Center at Moscow University for Humanities after Soviet times ended; participated in TV competitions between Soviet/American high schoolers about literature viewed by millions; served as guide/interpreter when composer Dmitri Shostakovich received an honorary degree from Northwestern during Cold War years—a story recounted both publicly then (“I feel like I’ve just talked to Beethoven,” said Daniel Weil quoting his father) as well as later memoirs (“From Cincinnati Reds to Moscow Reds”).
Weil is survived by three children—Alice; Daniel; Martin—and two grandchildren; preceded by wife Vivian (professor emeritus). In reflecting on mortality near life’s end via Shakespeare: “Of all things that men fear… death… Cowards die many times before their deaths…” A memorial service honoring Irwin Weil will be held May 24.
