In Memoriam: Ivan Curcin 1925-2014 rofessor Ivan “Ivo” Curcin, born October 16, 1925, in Zagreb, capital of present-day Croatia, died October 23, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona. A memorial has been held in Scottsdale with interment to follow in Zagreb. Ivo attended the University of Zagreb, completing a baccalaureate degree that emphasized English and French literature. He subsequently pursued advanced academic training in British literature at Oxford University, earning B.Litt. (1959) and D.Phil. (1967) degrees. During the post-World War II Tito era in Yugoslavia, increasing needs for English-Croatian language translations opened positions for the nation’s English language specialists. Ivo launched his academic career as assistant professor of English literature (1961-64) at the University of Belgrade. Concurrently he held several lectureships for English instruction at Zagreb adult education centers and produced two English language textbooks. After spending 1968-69 as visiting professor of English language and literature at the University of Puerto Rico’s research and doctoral program in San Juan, Professor Curcin joined PSU’s Department of English in 1969 as an assistant professor offering courses in his academic specialty, 19th and 20th century English literature. His appointment coincided with the emergence of PSU’s innovative inter-disciplinary Central European Studies Center that offered Serbo-Croatian language instruction, along with other critical languages including Russian, Polish and Czech. PSU obtained Fulbright-Hays and National Defense Educational Act grant support from the U. S. Office of Education and entered into academic contractual agreements with the University of Zagreb in Yugoslavia to establish an extension center, The Zagreb Institute, with a nationwide student outreach. Professor Curcin’s exceptional experience, especially his extensive, ongoing contacts and experience with academic communities in Zagreb and Belgrade, enabled him to furnish invaluable advice, liaison, and assistance for a prestigious program that attracted substantial numbers of students and provided a base for faculty members engaged in related field research. Professor Curcin was a gifted scholar, and popular teacher who added a significant dimension to the English department’s literature curriculum. His translations of both literary and popular works from Croatian to English have added knowledge and increased access to relatively little known but significant literature. His colleagues highly regarded Ivo’s accomplishments as a productive scholar and benefitted from his expertise. The University owes Ivo a debt of gratitude for dedication to intellectual excellence that benefitted instruction in English literature and Slavic Studies, and that reinforced PSU’s emergence as a major academic institution. After Professor Curcin’s retirement, the family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. His widow, Jadranka Mrkela Curcin, who came to PSU as a Croatian language Fulbright lecturer, survives him, as does Louisa, a daughter from a previous marriage. --Victor C. Dahl, Emeritus Professor of History P
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