Just one day after being diagnosed with a meningococcal infection, History of Art professor Nancy Forgione, 54, died at St. Joseph Medical Center on Sunday.
This is the second case of a sudden infection of meningococcous bacteria -- the most dangerous form of the disease, which the common vaccine cannot prevent -- at Homewood in two years. Sophomore Gilbert Dulvaisant died from the disease last fall.
"In contrast to the situation of a student with a meningococcal infection living in a dormitory setting where close contact with other students is very possible, the risk to students, to faculty and staff in this case is very low. We expect that few, if any, students, faculty or staff will need preventive treatment with antibiotics or will need to seek medical attention," Alain Joffe director of the Health and Wellness Center, wrote in a letter to the community.
Forgione taught at Hopkins since 1998 and was a two-time graduate of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. She received a bachelor degree in humanistic studies in 1974 and later, a doctorate in the history of art in 1993, writing her dissertation on the French artist Edouard Vuillard.
She taught undergraduate courses in 19th century European art and abstract expressionism and a part of the survey course "Introduction to the History of European Art." Students and colleagues recounted her warmth and passion for art history, saying Forgione's presence will be sorely missed.
"She was a wonderful teacher and colleague, tireless in her concern for her students, as radiantly energetic as she was modest," Henry Maguire, history of art professor and Forgione's 6-year colleague, said.
"Her intellectual interests were wide ranging, from the prints of Vuillard to the `flaneurs' of the Parisian boulevards. She often spoke of her experiences teaching in South Africa," he added.
"She was a highly talented teacher who cared greatly for the undergraduates at Hopkins, and many of our majors would ascribe their enthusiasm for art history to her classes," said Stephen Campbell, chair of the department of the history of art, who received his Ph.D. with Forgione in 1993 and has worked with her in the department since 2002.
"Some of our grads had their first experience with teaching as her assistants: She was the best possible model for them. It will be hard to imagine the department without her," he added.
"I TA'd for Nancy for two semesters about two years ago. She was a truly devoted teacher, took her students very seriously, and was very passionate about teaching her material well," Gulru Cakmak, a teaching assistant who worked with Forgione, said.
"One semester we had 82 students registered for a class, and it was an eye-opening experience for me to see how she would not shrink from any extra work which she thought would help the students grasp the material -- writing assignments which she would return with at least one-page-long comments, movie screenings a few nights a week, museum trips, etc. As a teacher of modern art history, she was very disciplined, precise, and also very caring. She will be truly missed," Cakmak added.
Forgione leaves her husband, Michael Hill, who graduated Hopkins in 1972, and their two sons.
"It truly is a tragic loss for our community. She was, as a colleague of mine commented, the kind of person who could make your day better with just a quick conversation while passing you in the hallway," Adam Falk, dean of Arts & Sciences, said.
"I only got here in August and knew Nancy only for a few months. That said, it was enough time to get to know what a warm and generous person she was. Her positive and engaged presence in the department and on campus is sorely missed," Bibiana Obler, postdoctoral fellow in the department of history of art, said.
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