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Irwin Hyatt Obituary
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Irwin Townsend Hyatt, Jr. passed away Friday, September 15, 2023. The only child of Dr. I. T. Hyatt and Sophia Horne Hyatt, he was born December 14, 1935, at old Piedmont Hospital. Irwin attended R.L. Hope School, where he was the Georgia Spelling Bee Champion. He graduated from the McCallie School in Chattanooga and Emory University, then served four years as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
After his discharge, Irwin studied East Asian Studies at Harvard University. While still in the PhD. program there, he was recruited by Emory University to develop and teach their first courses in Chinese and Japanese history. Irwin spent the next year studying in Taiwan with his family before returning to Emory. He taught in the history department and served as dean for faculty development for the next four decades. Known by scores of Emory students for his popular course "Heroes and Zeroes: WWII in the Pacific," he is remembered for his sense of humor, his wisdom, eloquence, and his deep affection for students, staff, and colleagues.
Irwin is survived by his wife Margaret; his sons, Townsend and Torrey; his daughter-in-law, Emily Karr; and by his grandsons, Pearce and Philip.
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3 Entries
David Wiley Branan
November 16, 2023
So sorry to hear of Dr. Hyatt´s passing. He inspired me to study history after taking my first class with him in 1976: Heroes and Zeros. He was a great teacher from whom I took many classes. God bless.
David Wiley Branan
Class of 1979
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John Allen
September 27, 2023
Dr. Hyatt was my friend. I remember his kindness; I remember his curiosity and his fondness for movies and books and his extensive knowledge of seemingly everything worth knowing. I remember his pleasant voice and his unique power of expression and his often-memorable use of words. And of course, I remember his wonderful gentle sense of humor and how he found so much in life amusing. I remember the cheerfulness of his greetings and in conversation his consistently modest manner. He had a politeness and a consideration for others that was uncommon. Dr. Hyatt was a lovely man and a gentleman, and I will miss him.
Matthew Porter
September 25, 2023
An Emory legend whose news of passing has spread through the Druid Hills community like the whisper of the fall wind. Lovely man. Lovely family.
Like many I have known of Dr Hyatt for decades but never was his student or personal friend. But like many I was lucky to know members of his family and admire their distinct ability to choose culture and music and experiences just beyond the imagination of their young peers. But not out our reach.
But just as we caught up with the younger Hyatts´ ideas and musical picks and quick wit they´d be off in a snap, challenging us keep pace.
I imagine that was their dad´s influence on them
and I imagine Dr Hyatt´s students experienced a similar illusiveness, a "catch me if you can" intellectual quality of inquiry and wonder that made learning discovery. And fun.
Our best teachers in our community taught us that the only afterlife of which we could be certain was "social immortality"-if we were challenging and good and kind and generous in life we could live on in the lives of those we touch.
I believe Dr Hyatt was one whose memory and impact will last generations to come. His legend extended far beyond his classrooms or study. Through his son he even reached me a bit. My condolences to all the Hyatt family. I hope their dad is walking a quiet and beautiful lane, content in the love of his family and delighted to be reunited with a sweet Basset Hound named Morgan.
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