 
Henry Christopher, Former Chair of Political Science, Dead at 75 |
Dr. Henry A. Christopher, a retired associate professor at St. Louis University, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. Louis County of complications from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. He was 75 and had lived in St. Louis.
From 1969 to 1988, Dr. Christopher was chairman of the political science department at the university. After joining the university in 1966, he spent two years teaching in the Dominican Republic. He also worked at Kent State University from 1962 to 1965. He retired in 1991 as an associate professor of political science.
Dr. Christopher was honored by the university in 1978 with the Nancy McNeir Ring Award for excellence in teaching and advising, and in 1985 with the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award. During his tenure, he was chosen in a student survey as one of the top 10 SLU professors.
Born and reared in Boston, Dr. Christopher earned a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a master's degree and doctorate from Northwestern University in Chicago. During World War II, he served in the Army as an assistant on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff. He served as an intelligence officer in the Korean War. He retired from the Army Reserve in 1963, after attaining the rank of major.
Dr. Christopher's life with Alzheimer's disease was described in a Winter 1997 issue of Universitas.
A memorial mass was celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 8 at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church, Grand and Lindell boulevards. The body was donated to Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
Among the survivors are his wife, Yvonn Chrsitopher; two daughters, Ellen Mannino of Overland Park, Kan., and Dr. Anne Gill of Ann Arbor, Mich; five sons, Larry Christopher of Creve Coeur, Paul Christopher and Matt Christopher, both of St. Louis, Dr. Tom Christopher of Atlanta and Brian Christopher of Chicago; a sister, Lena Bevilacqua of Boston; and 12 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Henry A. Christopher Fund at Saint Louis University.
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