Douglas Cameron, 71, Ursinus professor

Douglas MacDonald Cameron, 71, a professor of modern languages at Ursinus College whose love of Hispanic literature and culture impressed students and colleagues, died Saturday, Aug. 8, of cancer at Phoenixville Hospital.

Dr. Cameron made observation, discourse, and the written word his life's focus. He imbued students with his own passion for literature, then made intellectual connections with architecture, film, music, and the visual arts.

"Family, friends, students, and colleagues worldwide mourn the loss of this brilliant mind, one that questioned, challenged, and required others to think more deeply - not to accept the obvious - and to find the connections between art, cultures, and words," his family said in a tribute.

He loved teaching and kept coming to class even when his health became frail in recent months, Matthew Mizenko, chair of modern languages, wrote in a remembrance on the Ursinus website.

"Doug had an extraordinary commitment to Ursinus and to the vocation of teaching," Mizenko wrote.

Born to Donald Main Cameron and Mary Fitzpatrick Cameron in Riverside, N.Y., he spent his childhood learning Spanish in Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. He and his family left Cuba for the United States just ahead of the takeover by Fidel Castro.

He enrolled as a student at the Hill School in Pottstown. He graduated cum laude from Harvard University and earned a doctorate in Spanish and comparative literature from the University of California, San Diego.

Before joining the Ursinus faculty, Dr. Cameron taught at the University of Nevada, Reno; Rice University; the University of Houston; and Holy Family College.

Dr. Cameron arrived at Ursinus in 1986 and became full time the following year. As a scholar of Don Quixote, he loved bringing Cervantes to life for his students, the college said on its website.

Other favorite courses included Mexican cinema and Spanish Golden Age literature. He taught all levels of Spanish language, from introductory to advanced, and for many years led summer programs that took Ursinus students to Cuernavaca and Puebla, Mexico, for the study of language and culture, the college said.

He had been looking forward to teaching this fall.

Dr. Cameron married Edith Guay from Quebec. "It was a relationship that would expand his life through her eyes, language, family, and culture," his relatives said in the tribute.

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughters Rima Cameron and Maya Houston; five grandchildren; a sister; several nieces; and a nephew.

A 2:30 p.m. viewing will be followed by a 4 p.m. memorial service Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 532 E. Main St., Collegeville. Interment is private. Ursinus is planning a life celebration in the fall.

Donations may be made to the Douglas M. Cameron Fund, c/o Ursinus College Advancement Office, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville, Pa. 19426.

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