NEWS

Dr. Victor Batzel, In Memoriam

The University of Winnipeg announces with profound regret and sadness the passing of Dr. Victor Batzel, who passed away January 1, 2009 at the age of 73.

Batzel taught history at The University of Winnipeg for 35 years, retiring in late 1997. He earned a BA in History from the University of Minnesota before earning an MA from the University of Connecticut. He obtained his PhD in History from the University of Iowa. A Minnesota native and self-described “historian of the English experience”, Batzel began teaching British and Russian history at the University in the fall of 1962.

During his time at The University of Winnipeg, he developed an honors course in German history, distinguishing himself as innovative and ambitious. He also initiated a Philosophy of History course and a senior citizens course in history and music.

His excellence in the classroom earned him several accolades including becoming the first winner of the Clifford J. Robson Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1971. The University later awarded Batzel a Fellowship in United College in 1999.

In the late 1980s, Batzel was among the faculty members involved with “Our Children and the Community,” a joint project with Red River College and the Catholic University of Lima. Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, the project shared the expertise of University child care staff with Peruvian teacher coordinators, who in turn trained volunteer child care workers.

In 1990, he teamed up with Ilya Gerol, a syndicated columnist on world affairs and visiting professor at The University of Winnipeg, to organize “Cracking the Barrier: A Conference on Soviet and East-European Trade.” The event attracted trade representatives from Bulgaria, the former Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Soviet Union and Ukraine.

Batzel’s involvement in the University went beyond his teaching of courses, as he sat on the Board of Regents for 11 years and on the Senate for 26 years. He chaired the History Department and was a member of the Faculty Council of Arts and Science. A lover of music and an instructor in music history, Batzel was very involved with the Virtuosi Concert Series.

Outside of campus, he was actively involved in sports. He coached soccer and became the President of the Manitoba Soccer Association and the Vice-President and Director of National Teams for the Canadian Soccer Association.

Funeral arrangements for Dr. Batzel are still pending at this time.