William Kloss Obituary
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Charles Timbrell
October 18, 2021
This William Kloss is NOT the art historian, who is very much alive in Washington, DC on October 18, 2021!
Mack Mathews
September 5, 2021
William Kloss remains a great educator of European Art History through the Great Courses, and remains a great educator. I must thank him for his spiritual presence after life.
Mike McCarthy
September 2, 2021
I just finished watching his video presentations on A History of European Art and was seeking out an email to thank him and congratulate him on a truly engaging course. I am sad that I am too late to convey this to him. I have been bragging about this course to so many people and now plan to give it to a friend who is a H.S history teacher. He appeared humble, fair and polished.
My he Rest In Peace with great joy.
Robert T Short III
July 28, 2021
I am deeply sorry to hear of Professor Kloss's passing, however belatedly. I only knew him from his Great Courses lectures and courses, but I still feel like I lost a favorite teacher and mentor. He taught me everything I know about art and opened my heart and mind to do much amazing art. Thank you, Professor Kloss, and my condolences to your family and friends.
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Matthew Cole
June 11, 2021
I have recently started taking a number of the Great Courses series. My first course was "Dutch Art" taught by William Kloss, who did a masterful job of covering some of the greatest artists in Western history. He was a gentlemanly scholar of the first order, and I was surprised to see that he had passed away several years ago as I had wanted to send him an email commending him for his scholarly approach and well-delivered lectures. I am now starting another one of his courses on the Italian Renaissance and cannot help feeling sad that we have lost such a wonderful teacher.
January 14, 2021
I attended GWU in Washington, DC and was writing my Masters Thesis on Trompe L'oeil. When I began graduate school in 1984 I discovered that there was a Trompe L'oeil exhibition in my hometown of Columbus,Ohio. Since school had begun I could not go to the exhibition. I wrote and received the catalogue which was written by Bill. I saw that he worked at the Smithsonian and figured he lived nearby.
I hunted him down and we met. We became friends. Like friends in the DC area, if you talk once a year on the phone or see each other as much, that's pretty good. When I called him on the phone, I always had a purpose and not idle talk. But as you know, Bill is engaging and generous with his time. I cherished the conversations we had.
We collaborated on a few projects. My younger brother, Gregory Kirwin, and I created an early video of Bill, before he began making video lectures. I talked him into curating a Trompe L'oeil exhibit at the Arlington Arts Center. We collaborated on a studio tour and lecture for the Smithsonian Associates in conjunction with the NGA's "500 Years of Trompe L'oeil" exhibit. He brought a busload of participants to my studio in Alexandria to see my studio, paintings and a slide illustrated lecture of my work. My favorite memory is when I was teaching at the Smithsonian Associates and invited my seven sisters to come to DC for a "Cultural Weekend". We saw a concert at the Associates, dined in nice restaurants and the jewel of the weekend was a lecture and tour of the Baroque paintings of the NGA led by Bill. We actually made a trade. He offered for no charge, but I insisted upon making a Trompe L'oeil fireplace cover for him. Needless to say, this was a poignant tour. Needless to say as well that strangers were joining the lecture! He was magnetic in his speech and language. He loved Art and exposing and sharing what he knew. On another occasion my wife and I were going to meet Bill to see Archimboldo at the NGA. We arrived before the exhibition opened so we looked at the permanent collection since we were there. Bill fell into his "tour guide mode" and began to talk about the paintings. I wished for some more informal time, but he drew a crowd as usual including students of his lecture series recognized him!
Rest in Peace, my dear friend.
Marla Switz Krigbaum
March 23, 2020
Saddened to learn of Bill's passing nearly 3 years ago, but I must memorialize and remember him as we were teenagers growing up together in Newton Falls, Ohio , in Sunday School at the United Methodist Church, and attending Lakeside together as youths. He was a year behind me but we were friends through high school. Enjoyed his humor, intelligence and after graduating from high school and college we went separate ways. Along the way, I learned so much from his lecture courses on European art, his shared friendship with a mutual friend and assessing favorably my attempt at painting primitive art. It meant so much to me. It is nostalgic to remember a friend now passed knowing that he is gone and yet, never again to see him for over 60 years except on a video . Knowing he was a fellow Methodist maybe we will meet and talk art in heaven.
Sophie Altes
February 1, 2020
Thoroughly enjoy the lectures about European art and its history that you presented in your art course.
So sad to hear about your passing
We extend our sincere condolences to your family.
walter davis
August 29, 2019
I am so saddened to hear so belatedly of Bill's death. I first met Bill through the great book's courses. My wife and I have been given so much by them. In return and thanks I sent him a book of mine on Theater. Bill and I then began an email correspondence --intermittent but always deeply gratifying. I have the treasure of all his Great Books courses which I watch again and again.
Barbara Warman
March 23, 2019
I'm so sorry to see this. I was acquainted with Mr. Kloss only through the Great Courses lecture series...had a chance to exchange emails with him on a question I had about a particular piece of artwork...he was so helpful and gracious. I thoroughly enjoyed all of his lectures...superlative presentations from a truly gifted and gracious professor/historian. My condolences to his family.
Dean and Mary Harris
March 21, 2018
Only know him from his lectures on The Great Courses, but he left us enraptured by his graciousness and insights
Pamela Rigg
January 15, 2018
I am only acquainted with William Kloss through the Great Courses series which at this moment I am only half through. His course has moved me greatly. I am very saddened that I cannot speak with him directly and express my gratitude that he took the time and effort to share his deep, deep insights - not just art - into the human condition. A truly exquisite man.
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