Billings, Kim

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices9-12-2001MEDIA ADVISORY UNH Professor EmeritusRobert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175Kim BillingsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationBillings, Kim, "MEDIA ADVISORY UNH Professor Emeritus Robert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175" (2001). UNH Today.2569.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/256911/20/17, 12(12 PMMEDIA ADVISORY: UNH Professor Emeritus Robert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175Page 1 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/september/kb_20010912leblanc.htmlProfessor Emeritus Robert LeBlancDownload Photo HereMEDIA ADVISORY: UNH Professor Emeritus RobertLeBlanc on Board United Flight 175By Kim Billings UNH News Bureau 603-862-1558September 12, 2001DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshirehas learned that Robert LeBlanc, professor emeritus ofgeography, was on board United Flight 175 that crashedinto the World Trade Center yesterday morning.Colleagues in his department are still absorbing theshock of his death and have asked not to be contactedby the press at this time. However, we offer commentsbelow from the president and the dean of the college. Inaddition, Ted Kirkpatrick, associate dean of liberal arts,is available for comment at 862-2062.ProfessorEmeritus ofGeography,Robert G.LeBlanc earnedhis BA at UNHand his Ph.D. atthe Universityof Minnesota. Professor LeBlanc, a cultural geographer,began his career at UNH in 1963 and served withdistinction until his retirement in 1999. He served asacting chair and chair of the department for nearly tenyears.Professor LeBlanc was a scholar in Canadian studies,studying Franco-American communities in NewEngland mill towns. He traveled the world and broughthis experiences back to Durham, sharing them with thehundreds of students he taught over his career.He was honored as a Whiting Foundation Fellow in1983, received the 1988 Distinguished Service Award11/20/17, 12(12 PMMEDIA ADVISORY: UNH Professor Emeritus Robert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175Page 2 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/september/kb_20010912leblanc.html of the New England Geography Society in 1988, andparticipated in the N.H. Council for the HumanitiesFranco-American Project, the New Hampshire Councilfor Canadian Studies and served as incorporator of theFranco-American Center of Manchester.In a 1997 interview with the UNH News Bureau inanticipation of Geography Awareness Week, LeBlancwas excited about the resurgence of interest ingeography, not only at the university but in grades Kthrough 12 as well. He said, "While history is the studyof events through time, geography focuses on the whereand why. Studying geography is studying maps, butalso human interaction with the environment, theimportance of location and conditions to an event."Marilyn Hoskin, dean of the College of Liberal Arts,said:"All of us were deeply saddened by the tragic loss ofour colleague, Professor Robert LeBlanc. ProfessorLeBlanc was an outstanding scholar of Canadianstudies and cultural geography. As both an alumnus ofUNH and one of its finest teachers, Professor LeBlancwas one who cared deeply about the university and theGranite State."Hoskin continued: "I had the honor of working withBob in his capacity as Department Chair. One could notfind another colleague with greater passion for teachingyoung minds about the complexities of the past andpresent and the connections between time and place. Helost his life traveling yet again to the further reaches ofthe globe. We will not forget the many gifts of his talentthat he shared so willingly with students andcolleagues. Our hearts go out to his family and friendsin this time of sorrow. We share the deep pain of loss ofthis singular man."UNH President Joan Leitzel said:"Professor LeBlanc retired only last year and remaineda fixture on campus after his 37 years of teaching andresearch. He was a highly valued and respected memberof our community. We are deeply saddened by histragic death. Our thoughts and prayers are with hisfamily, his UNH colleagues, and his former students."11/20/17, 12(12 PMMEDIA ADVISORY: UNH Professor Emeritus Robert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175Page 3 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/september/kb_20010912leblanc.htmlBack to UNH News Bureau

MEDIA ADVISORY UNH Professor Emeritus Robert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175

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MEDIA ADVISORY UNH Professor Emeritus Robert LeBlanc on Board United Flight 175

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