Kathleen M. Erndl, 63, of Tallahassee died suddenly Sunday (2/19/17) at her home. Born at the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River in Maryland, Dr. Erndl, a beloved professor and noted South Asian religious scholar, was an Associate Professor at Florida State University. Her love of South Asian culture began with her travel to Sri Lanka during her sophomore year at New College of Florida. She conducted research and traveled in India frequently, receiving the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, Fulbright-Hays, and NEH Fellowship. She authored, Victory to the Mother: The Hindu Goddess of Northwest India in Myth, Ritual, and Symbol (Oxford, 1993), co-edited, Is the Goddess a Feminist? The Politics of South Asian Goddesses (NYU Press, 2000), and published articles on Sakta traditions, spirit possession, women's religious expressions, methodology, and gender issues in Hinduism. Her teaching excellence gave her the Advanced Teacher of Year Award at FSU; she was also faculty advisor to the FSU Indian Students Association. Her knowledgeable and sincere influence touched students, colleagues, and friends globally.
She is survived by her partner: Yakini Kemp of Tallahassee; son: Gabriel Erndl-Clana of Tallahassee; brothers: Christopher of Sanford, Jay (Lauryn) of DeBary; mother: Edna Griffin (Ron-deceased) of DeBary; father: Bill (Mary Lee) of Daytona Beach; partner’s daughter: Nzinga Kemp (Roshmond Patten) of Los Angeles, CA; and nieces and nephew: Jessica, David, Emily, Christina, Stephanie, and Larisa.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 3:00 PM at The Alumni Center at FSU, 1030 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32304. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: the Southern Poverty Law Center or the Refuge House of Tallahassee.
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