Robert-Dial-Obituary

Robert Lloyd Dial Ph.D.

Akron, Ohio

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Akron, Ohio

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Robert Lloyd Dial, PhDRobert Lloyd Dial, PhD, 85, died peacefully February 18, 2015 with his family present.A celebration of his life will be scheduled in April.(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 330-867-4141)

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Hey Dad, just thinking about you today, so much I would love to talk to you about and share with you about life, jazz, growing up in Akron, etc. Seems like yesterday you passed away. Know you and Soni are somewhere taking a walk and you are doing your best to keep up with her. She would be quite surprised at all Ruth has done to upgrade your house. Thanks for passing on your love for jazz, as it nourishes me daily. Love you madly, as you would say!! Steve

It would be most valuable to hear what Robert Dial would say if he were here to talk about the current health crisis in this country. He was most considerate of the plight of less fortunate people. Charitable to say the least. We wonder what his class dealing with comparable topics would be like. He was my instructor for poetry appreciation. We were fortunate to know and admire him during those years when he was a professor at the university. Film appreciation for sure would have left a...

The English degree that I obtained last century was in part due to my devotion to Robert Dial who spoke with me on numerous occasions about jazz music. Robert knew jazz music and jazz history and was willing to discuss that topic with me at the university or at his house and during social gatherings in several places. Today I still recall our discussions of jazz music in his office and after the English literature classes I was fortunate enough to take from him on many occasions. Film...

Not too long ago during 2017 or 2018 I believe something happened on the near west side in the Wall Haven neighborhood of Akron in the theater that has been in operation for a variety of purposes for so many years when I attended a cultural program where I met two younger people who wanted to speak with me about Bob Dial as soon as I let them know that I had been a student in Bob Dial's class last century at the university. These two young men were most respectful of Bob Dial and his memory...

Notable intellectual contributions by Bob Dial to my education were enormous last century. His admiration for so many authors in English and American literature was one of the reasons I chose to take his classes. He was one of the few people who could talk knowledgeably about jazz music. His knowledge about films and novels converted to films in various adaptations of literature to the screen was his chief contribution to my decision to speak with him on so many occasions in his office. I...

Our intellectual debt which I and others owe to Robert Dial for his inspiration and teaching and discussions about several topics last century can not be placed in a category of percentages for the simple reason that he was able to show care for less fortunate people and teach the importance of reading literature and listening to jazz. I can still recall the location of his old office to be found in an old house along Buchtel Avenue last century when he first arrived on campus. His sense of...

Many years ago like last century I earned my bachelors degree in English from Akron University in part because of being in the many classes taught by Robert Dial. I am speaking about the literature classes dealing with the nineteenth century, poetry appreciation and film. Robert taught me to think about literature - Thomas Hardy, nineteenth century English literature, Victorian literature, twentieth century stuff from many places, poetry of various kinds, and an appreciation of film. His...

Dr. Dial taught me Film Appreciation and Film Criticism at The University of Akron. I was a Computer Science major and selected his classes as part of my electives. His enthusiasm and love of film made *his* classes the ones I was so anxious to attend, even though it should have been the computer classes I was more interested in. Dr. Dial had a way of making his classes very desireable, entertaining and thought-provoking. I learned so much from him and I honestly do think about him nearly...

I will always remember Bob Dial for his sharp wit and extensive knowledge and appreciation of jazz and films. He was a kind, cultured and wise colleague and is sorely missed by many. Rest in peace, Bob. -- Diana Chlebek, University of Akron colleague