Herbert Josephs *63

Herbert Josephs, professor emeritus at Michigan State University (MSU), died peacefully at home July 27, 2019, at age 86.

Josephs graduated from Brooklyn College in 1953 and earned a master’s degree in 1956 from Fordham University. He then earned a Ph.D. in Romance languages and literature from Princeton in 1963. After two years as an associate professor at Amherst, he began a 40-year career as professor of 18th-century French literature in MSU’s Romance language department.

He became the first non-musically trained professor to join the Michigan State School of Music. This was to leverage his great teaching skills to help spread the love of opera. Josephs lectured on opera from Austria to Nevada, as well as at MSU and the local community, making opera available to many new fans.

Josephs was predeceased in 2016 by his wife of 59 years, Mary Jim Russell, who also was a full professor at MSU and who became director of the College of Lifelong Education at MSU and assistant provost for community outreach. He is survived by a son and grandson.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.