HELEN SAFA Obituary

SAFA, HELEN I., 82

Gainesville - Helen I. Safa, pioneering anthropologist of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, died on Nov. 4 at E.T. York Haven Hospice. She was Professor Emerita of Anthropology and Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. Born in 1930 in New York City to German immigrant parents and a graduate of Cornell University, she earned her MA (1958) and Ph.D. (1962) in anthropology at Columbia University. She first taught at Syracuse University and then was on the faculty and Director of the Latin American Institute and Chair of Anthropology at Rutgers University before being recruited to the University of Florida as Director of the UF Center for Latin American Studies in 1980. She served as President of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) in 1983-85, and retired from UF in 1997.

Her work on women, families, gender politics and ideologies combined solid scholarship with a political thrust entailing a firm commitment to social equality and a steadfast belief that scholarship can further positive societal change. Among her most significant publications were The Urban Poor of Puerto Rico (1974) and The Myth of the Male Breadwinner (1995). In 2007, she received LASA's highest honor, the Kalman Silvert Award, given for distinguished lifetime contributions to the study of Latin America and the Caribbean. She was also honored as a founder of Puerto Rican anthropology and women's studies by the Puerto Rican Association of Anthropology and the American Ethnology Society, and received the 2003 Conrad Arensburg award from the Society for the Anthropology of Work of the American Anthropological Association.

She was married to Manouchehr Safa from 1962 to his death in 1994, and is survived by their daughter, Mitra, and stepchildren Kaveh and Arya, and her second husband, John Dumoulin, whom she married in 1999. She leaves an extended family including daughter-in-law Michele, son-in-law Roland, stepson Sebas and wife Silvina, and grandchildren Arman, Laylee, Nicolas, Alexis, Anna, Pablo, Bailey, Ethan, and baby Luca.

A Celebration of Life in her honor will be held on Saturday, December 21st. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Matheson Museum, 513 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601, or to the Safa Graduate Student Travel Endowment at the UF Center for Latin American Studies
https://www.uff.ufl.edu/OnlineGiving/CenterforLatinAmericanStudies.asp

Published by Gainesville Sun from Dec. 16 to Dec. 17, 2013.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for HELEN SAFA

Not sure what to say?





3 Entries

My sympathies and condolences, John. Wishing you and your family peace and comfort.

Susan Mickelberry

December 18, 2013

Deepest condolences to Helen's husband John and their family.

Robert Prather

December 18, 2013

Sincerest condolences to John and the entire family. Helen's sharp mind and ready smile will be missed.

Michelle and Chris Ott

December 17, 2013

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results

Make a Donation
in HELEN SAFA's name

Memorial Events
for HELEN SAFA

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support HELEN's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor HELEN SAFA's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more