Professor Emeritus Arthur Lewis dies at 89

Professor Emeritus Arthur Lewis, a co-founder of the college’s ProTeach program and educational advisor to developing countries, died Sept. 10 in Jacksonville. He was 89.

Born in Colorado, Lewis began his teaching career in Denver schools. He soon shifted to an administrative track, and served as assistant superintendent for the Minneapolis, Minn. School system. He served as a professor of educational administration at Columbia University before coming to UF.

In addition to his work at UF, Lewis worked as an educational advisor to a number of developing countries. As Chief of Party for the Uganda-based Teachers for East Africa Program, he designed university-level teacher education programs for several African nations. With funding from the Ford Foundation, he served as an advisor to the Iranian Ministry of Education before the 1979 revolution in that country.

Friends and colleagues describe Lewis as a person with a low-key personality and a mind brimming with ideas.

Professor Phillip Clark, director of the Center for Community Education, recalls a speech Lewis made before the Gainesville Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International. Lewis quietly proposed that Phi Delta Kappa take on a comprehensive study of the effectiveness of all ongoing programs in the Florida Department of Education – a major undertaking for the organization. His argument was so compelling, PDK took up the challenge, spending the next six years on just such a study.

“He was a true gentleman and a fine educator,” Clark said.

In his spare time, Lewis was an avid golfer. He even bought a home within walking distance of West End Golf Course to feed his hunger for the links.

To read the Gainesville Sun’s obituary for Lewis, or post a message on the Sun’s online guestbook, click here.