Gotthard Karl Galinsky

February 7, 1942 in Strasbourg, France - March 9, 2024 in Austin, Texas

Karl Galinsky passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2024.

By any measure, Karl had an amazing journey in this life. He was born during the Second World War in what is now France, and grew up as the son of a professor in postwar Germany. He was the second of four children, and he attended a high school where he studied Latin, Greek and French.

When he was 18 years old, he received a scholarship to Bowdoin College in Maine. It was at Bowdoin that he received his A.B. in 1963. He went on to get his M.A. and PhD from Princeton University, and began teaching at the University of Texas in 1966. He taught at UT for over 50 years, garnering many awards for teaching and scholarship including the Max Planck International Research Prize.

Karl was Chairman of the Classics Department at UT from 1974-1990, where he helped to make the department nationally renowned. He was a visiting professor at Tulane University, the University of La Plata in Argentina, and the Universities of Mainz and Bochum in Germany.

Karl was the author of several books, including Augustan Culture and Augustus: Introduction to the Life of an Emperor. He also edited several books, including most recently Cultural Memories in the Roman Empire and Memory in Ancient Rome and Early Christianity.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Karl loved teaching in all its forms, from large undergraduate classes to advising and mentoring PhD. students. His passion was infectious and he inspired and influenced countless students during his many years of teaching.

He loved traveling and languages. He had several stints of living in Rome, and returned there often. It was in Italy that he developed his love for Italian food, cappuccino, and Prosecco. In addition to Italy, he lived in Germany for half the year between 2009-2013. He traveled and lectured widely over the years, both domestically and internationally. He particularly enjoyed his trips to New Zealand and Argentina.

He loved sports, and was an avid fan of UT football and basketball, the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, San Antonio Spurs, and the soccer team from his hometown of Mainz, Germany. He shared his enthusiasm with his family, taking his sons and grandson on sports-watching trips from Houston to London.

Karl was devoted to his children and grand-children. He shared with us his love of travel, taking them to Europe multiple times, and never hesitated to visit no matter where they lived. He kept in touch regularly, and was always there to support and guide us. His love for his family is evident in his home, where photos of children and grandchildren adorn nearly every room.

He was a big presence in so many people’s lives, even as he battled cancer the last five years. His hopefulness, positivity, and bravery in confronting his illness were typical of the way he lived his life, and he will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his sister Teresa and his brother Christoph, his sons Bob and John, his son-in-law Matt Cawood, his grandchildren Alex, Zoe and Nicholas, and their mother Christine Lenschow.