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ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736
E-mail: [email protected]
www.zoryaninstitute.org
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Aren Sarikyan
DATE: March 6, 2008
Tel: 416-250-9807
Stephen Feinstein, Genocide Scholar, Passes Away
Toronto, Canada - It was with shock and great sadness that we at the Zoryan
Institute learned of the passing yesterday of our colleague and friend,
Stephen Charles Feinstein. His departure marks the loss of an important
scholar, great educator, active associate of this institute, and strong
friend of the Armenian people. His death, while speaking at a local Jewish
Film Festival, caught everyone by surprise, as, aged only 65, he seemed
robust and full of energy. He was taken to hospital where he died of an
aortic aneurism that resulted in cardiac arrest. His wife Susan was with him
the entire time.
In the words of Vahakn N. Dadrian, Zoryan's Director of Genocide Research,
`His selfless and very effective involvement in the promotion of studies
that went beyond focused Holocaust themes and incorporated, in particular,
the Armenian Genocide, was a monument to his sublime humanity. We will all
sorely miss him.'
As a Holocaust specialist, Steve was quick to appreciate the significance of
the interconnections between the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. He
worked energetically to introduce the Armenian Genocide into the curriculum
and public programs of the University of Minnesota, creating, among other
things, a very useful teacher's resource kit and producing in conjunction
with Minnesota Public Television an award-winning documentary film, `The
Armenian Genocide: 90 Years Later.' Under his supervision, the CHGS's web
site (www.chgs.umn.edu) became a rich and valuable source of reliable
information on all aspects of the Holocaust and genocide.
Prof. Feinstein was the Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies since 1999, as well as an Adjunct Professor of History at the
University of Minnesota. Previously, he had taught in the Dept. of History
at University of Wisconsin-River Falls for thirty years until retirement. He
had received a Ph.D. in Russian and European History from New York
University in 1971, and an MA in European History and Art from there in
1966.
Steve had a scholarly interest in the artistic representation of genocide.
He wrote and lectured about it, organized art exhibits, and his site
provides a rare showcase for the art of Jewish, Armenian, and other
genocides.
In 2003, he helped organize a partnership between the University of
Minnesota and the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) to run the highly regarded
annual Genocide and Human Rights University Program simultaneously in
Minneapolis and Toronto. The partnership provided official accreditation to
the program in both locations. He served both as Co-Director of the program
and taught in it at both locations.
`In all my dealings with Steve, I found him to be both visionary in seeing
the benefits of collaboration between our two organizations, as well as
eminently practical in helping to overcome the inevitable obstacles to such
undertakings. He will be missed not only for his vision and his scholarship,
but also for his leadership in field of genocide studies as a master
educator,' said Greg Sarkissian, Zoryan's President.
Stephen sought to foster scholarly research and increase public knowledge
about the history and politics of ethnic and national conflict in the
eastern Mediterranean, with the hope that the knowledge developed would
contribute to reconciliation among the diverse peoples of the region. In
this respect, he collaborated through the CHGS with scholars such as Eric
Weitz and Taner Akçam on several research projects with various other
institutions around the world, including the Zoryan Institute.
Always a man of conviction in the defence of truth, Stephen Feinstein was
one of the prominent signatories to the famous statement of 126 Holocaust
scholars at the Thirtieth Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches in
2000 `affirming that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable
historical fact and accordingly urge the governments of Western Democracies
to recognize it as such.'
Roger W. Smith, Chair of Zoryan's Academic Board, in remembering his late
colleague, stated that `Steve, whom I knew for many years and worked with in
many contexts, was one of the finest persons I have ever known: he had
integrity, intellect, generosity, and a universal perspective that included
all peoples. He knew a great deal about tragedy and suffering, but
transcended them with humanity and that ever present sense of humour.'
`Steve was well known for his numerous contributions to the field, through
his own research, teaching, public lecturing, organizing conferences and
publishing, and particularly through the help and support he provided to
countless students and scholars in their respective efforts,' commented
George Shirinian, Executive Director of the Zoryan Institute. `He was
outstanding for his countless efforts at outreach and networking with others
in the field. His collaboration, irrepressible humour, benevolence and warm
friendship will be greatly missed by all of us at the Zoryan Institute.'
Steve leaves his wife Susan, two children, and two grandchildren. The
funeral will be held at Temple Beth-El in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota,
Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM. The family has requested that any memorial
donations be directed to the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The
information is at: http://www.chgs.umn.edu.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736
E-mail: [email protected]
www.zoryaninstitute.org
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Aren Sarikyan
DATE: March 6, 2008
Tel: 416-250-9807
Stephen Feinstein, Genocide Scholar, Passes Away
Toronto, Canada - It was with shock and great sadness that we at the Zoryan
Institute learned of the passing yesterday of our colleague and friend,
Stephen Charles Feinstein. His departure marks the loss of an important
scholar, great educator, active associate of this institute, and strong
friend of the Armenian people. His death, while speaking at a local Jewish
Film Festival, caught everyone by surprise, as, aged only 65, he seemed
robust and full of energy. He was taken to hospital where he died of an
aortic aneurism that resulted in cardiac arrest. His wife Susan was with him
the entire time.
In the words of Vahakn N. Dadrian, Zoryan's Director of Genocide Research,
`His selfless and very effective involvement in the promotion of studies
that went beyond focused Holocaust themes and incorporated, in particular,
the Armenian Genocide, was a monument to his sublime humanity. We will all
sorely miss him.'
As a Holocaust specialist, Steve was quick to appreciate the significance of
the interconnections between the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. He
worked energetically to introduce the Armenian Genocide into the curriculum
and public programs of the University of Minnesota, creating, among other
things, a very useful teacher's resource kit and producing in conjunction
with Minnesota Public Television an award-winning documentary film, `The
Armenian Genocide: 90 Years Later.' Under his supervision, the CHGS's web
site (www.chgs.umn.edu) became a rich and valuable source of reliable
information on all aspects of the Holocaust and genocide.
Prof. Feinstein was the Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies since 1999, as well as an Adjunct Professor of History at the
University of Minnesota. Previously, he had taught in the Dept. of History
at University of Wisconsin-River Falls for thirty years until retirement. He
had received a Ph.D. in Russian and European History from New York
University in 1971, and an MA in European History and Art from there in
1966.
Steve had a scholarly interest in the artistic representation of genocide.
He wrote and lectured about it, organized art exhibits, and his site
provides a rare showcase for the art of Jewish, Armenian, and other
genocides.
In 2003, he helped organize a partnership between the University of
Minnesota and the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) to run the highly regarded
annual Genocide and Human Rights University Program simultaneously in
Minneapolis and Toronto. The partnership provided official accreditation to
the program in both locations. He served both as Co-Director of the program
and taught in it at both locations.
`In all my dealings with Steve, I found him to be both visionary in seeing
the benefits of collaboration between our two organizations, as well as
eminently practical in helping to overcome the inevitable obstacles to such
undertakings. He will be missed not only for his vision and his scholarship,
but also for his leadership in field of genocide studies as a master
educator,' said Greg Sarkissian, Zoryan's President.
Stephen sought to foster scholarly research and increase public knowledge
about the history and politics of ethnic and national conflict in the
eastern Mediterranean, with the hope that the knowledge developed would
contribute to reconciliation among the diverse peoples of the region. In
this respect, he collaborated through the CHGS with scholars such as Eric
Weitz and Taner Akçam on several research projects with various other
institutions around the world, including the Zoryan Institute.
Always a man of conviction in the defence of truth, Stephen Feinstein was
one of the prominent signatories to the famous statement of 126 Holocaust
scholars at the Thirtieth Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches in
2000 `affirming that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable
historical fact and accordingly urge the governments of Western Democracies
to recognize it as such.'
Roger W. Smith, Chair of Zoryan's Academic Board, in remembering his late
colleague, stated that `Steve, whom I knew for many years and worked with in
many contexts, was one of the finest persons I have ever known: he had
integrity, intellect, generosity, and a universal perspective that included
all peoples. He knew a great deal about tragedy and suffering, but
transcended them with humanity and that ever present sense of humour.'
`Steve was well known for his numerous contributions to the field, through
his own research, teaching, public lecturing, organizing conferences and
publishing, and particularly through the help and support he provided to
countless students and scholars in their respective efforts,' commented
George Shirinian, Executive Director of the Zoryan Institute. `He was
outstanding for his countless efforts at outreach and networking with others
in the field. His collaboration, irrepressible humour, benevolence and warm
friendship will be greatly missed by all of us at the Zoryan Institute.'
Steve leaves his wife Susan, two children, and two grandchildren. The
funeral will be held at Temple Beth-El in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota,
Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM. The family has requested that any memorial
donations be directed to the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The
information is at: http://www.chgs.umn.edu.