C. Sylvester Whitaker Jr., professor of political science emeritus and former dean of social sciences at the University of Southern California, died Nov. 29, 2008, of cancer. He was 73.

A graduate of Swarthmore, Whitaker received a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton in 1964. He was an expert in the political development of Africa and published a study of Nigeria, The Politics of Tradition, in 1970. He alsto taught at UCLA, Princeton, and Rutgers. A practicing Quaker, he was also a lifelong sports fan, especially of the USC Trojans and the Pittsburgh Steelers football teams.

Whitaker is survived by his wife, Shirley; two sons; and two grandchildren.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.

Graduate Class of 1964