Associate Professor Emerita of Art History Elaine P. Loeffler passed away on Feb. 5 of this year at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home in East Providence, R.I. She was 85.

News of Loeffler’s death reached Brandeis belatedly, Provost Steve Goldstein ’78 wrote in a June 17 email to members of the faculty and staff, adding that she had no surviving family.

“She is remembered as an extraordinary teacher and delightful colleague,” wrote Goldstein. “[She was] quick and witty, as well as knowledgeable, and with a special ability to inspire her students.”

A May 11 obituary published in the Providence Journal noted that while she was born in Rochester, N.Y, Loeffler spent much of her professional career at Universities throughout New England. 

After graduating from Smith College in 1950, she worked as an archaeologist and then became the chief curator of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum in Providence, according to the obituary.

In 1967, Loeffler came to Waltham, where she taught art history to generations of Brandeis students until her retirement in 1990.

A graveside service was held in May at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.