CHICAGO (AP) - Karl Joachim Weintraub, a longtime University of Chicago professor who was so popular with students that they would sleep in line to register for his class, has died. He was 79.
Weintraub taught a course on Western history and culture for about 50 years. He died of a brain tumor Thursday in the university's Bernard Mitchell Hospital.
Each spring students would line up for hours on campus to get a spot in his class. The student newspaper once reported the annual event under a headline: ``Waiting for Weintraub.''
Amy Kass, a University of Chicago senior lecturer in humanities, said after meeting Weintraub, known as ``Jock,'' she decided to start a career in academics. She also has taught at Duke University.
``Students there slept out to get basketball tickets,'' Kass said. ``That's the difference between other schools and Chicago. Here it was for Jock.''
Although he was failing in health, Weintraub met with his classes until 2002. He had technically retired, but continued his teaching and refused to accept a salary.
His wife and colleague, Katy O'Brien Weintraub, said that was his way of protesting changing styles in higher education. The Western Civilization course was being downsized and changed by a younger generation of faculty - except in the two sections the Weintraubs offered.
Weintraub was born in Germany to a Jewish father and a Christian mother. During World War II, he was hidden by a Christian family in Holland. Afterward, the Quakers arranged for him to come to the United States. He finished his doctorate at the University of Chicago in 1957.
His experiences with Nazis deepened his resolve to keep his course. ``I had enough of life without civilization,'' he said during the struggle over the course.
He also is survived by a sister. The university is planning a memorial service.
