Remembering Dennis Wayne Rothermel, philosophy professor who wrote about peace, filmmaking and food

"Dennis Wayne Rothermel, a philosophy professor who spent his retirement in Berkeley, passed away on Oct. 5, in Asheville, North Carolina at the age of 76 in the presence of his beloved companion of 14 years, Amy Janine Belanger. Born in South Bend, Indiana, Dennis graduated from John Adams High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Yale University, and an master's and Ph.D. at Northwestern University."

"He then devoted 41 years to California State University, Chico, as professor of philosophy. He also served for over a decade as department chair and later as interim academic vice-provost for academic affairs and dean of undergraduate education. Dennis's research, publishing, and teaching spanned critical thinking, continental philosophy, and philosophy and film studies. He published numerous journal articles, book chapters, and book reviews, and was a frequent presenter at academic conferences."

"His publications on film include Slow Food, Slow Film, Heroic Endurance, and Anti-War War Films, and book chapters on filmmakers such as Joel and Ethan Coen, Clint Eastwood, John Ford, Bertrand Tavernier, Julie Taymor, and Aki Kaurismaki. He co-edited two volumes of essays, one focused on peace studies and another on film and media theory. Right up to his death, he was working on three new projects, including a book on the Grateful Dead's filmography."

Dennis Wayne Rothermel was born in South Bend, Indiana, and graduated from John Adams High School before earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Yale and a master's and Ph.D. at Northwestern University. He spent 41 years at California State University, Chico as professor of philosophy, serving over a decade as department chair and later as interim academic vice-provost for academic affairs and dean of undergraduate education. His research and teaching covered critical thinking, continental philosophy, and philosophy and film studies. He published numerous articles, book chapters, and reviews, co-edited two essay volumes, and authored film-focused works. He remained active on three new projects, including a book on the Grateful Dead's filmography. He enjoyed art, music, cooking, travel, museums, photography, baseball, retirement years in Berkeley and Black Mountain, North Carolina, and kept cats including Tin Tin.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org