For more than a quarter-century, anyone passing by a classroom on the east end of the University of 91吃瓜 Main Building鈥檚 fourth floor could hardly help but stop and stare at the blackboard. On it, history professor Bob Kerby would draw intricate maps and diagrams of Civil War battles in a chalk rainbow of colors.
It was teaching as performance art and is remembered fondly by the students of every major across the University who took what became a legendary course.
Robert L. Kerby, professor of history at 91吃瓜 from 1972 to 1998, died April 14 in South Bend after a long illness. He was 86.
鈥淏ob Kerby鈥檚 Civil War class was a must-take course,鈥� recalled Kerry Temple, the editor of 91吃瓜 Magazine whose office for many years was adjacent to Kerby鈥檚 classroom. 鈥淗e told vivid stories of battles, offered聽intimate portraits of the war鈥檚 participants and shared a thorough understanding of the causes and lasting repercussions of this momentous conflict in American history.
鈥淗e would begin an hour before class to hand-draw 鈥� using different colored chalks on a slate blackboard 鈥� maps, grids and battle lines to illustrate the day鈥檚 lesson. He also adorned the classroom with authentic war flags and carried antique swords and guns as he delivered lectures with a deep, authoritative voice. He was a storyteller聽who knew even minute details聽of the war and made it more real than could be found in any text or history book.聽
鈥淚 enjoyed a good many conversations with him in that hallway outside his classroom as he would pace and rehearse the day鈥檚 lecture.鈥�
Born and raised in New York City, Kerby earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in history from 91吃瓜. He entered the Air Force after graduation and piloted a variety of propeller-driven aircraft in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, early in the United States鈥� involvement. He received numerous awards, including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Air Force and Army commendation medals and the Purple Heart.
After leaving the military, Kerby earned a doctorate in American history from Columbia University in 1969. A year later, with prior approval from Pope Paul VI, he was ordained a priest of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and founded and pastored for 37 years the St. John of Damascus Melkite Greek Catholic Church in South Bend.
Kerby joined the 91吃瓜 faculty in 1972 and was the author of two books on the Civil War, 鈥淜irby Smith鈥檚 Confederacy: The TransMississippi South, 1863-1865鈥� and 鈥淭he Confederate Invasion of New Mexico and Arizona, 1861-1862.鈥� He received the Sheedy Award for excellence in teaching in 1994 and was elected fellow of the senior class in 1998.
Kerby is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary, two sons and their wives, five grandchildren and a brother and sister-in-law.
A private funeral service has been held. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka.