English Faculty's William Nestrick Dies at Age 55

Associate Professor William Nestrick, an expert in Renaissance literature and film scholar, died at his home Feb. 29. He was 55.

An enthusiastic and "much beloved teacher," colleagues became concerned when he failed to show up for his Thursday afternoon classes.

Campus police were alerted and he was found dead at his Berkeley home. The coroner's office determined the cause of death was a massive cerebral hemorrhage.

"He was always a congenial and convivial man," said fellow English Professor Donald Friedman, who added that his death came as a great shock as Nestrick had appeared happy and healthy in recent days.

He taught 16th and 17th century literature and was known for his work on Edmund Spenser and George Herbert.

Currently chair of comparative literature, Nestrick joined the Berkeley faculty in 1967 as an assistant professor. He received his PhD in English from Harvard and was a Henry Fellow at Cambridge University in England in 1962.

"He was an expert in Renaissance literature, but had lately been working in the area of film studies," said Ralph Rader, English chair.

A member of the Berkeley Arts Club, Nestrick was "a devotee of the arts, particularly opera," said Rader.

He is survived by his mother, Nova G. Nestrick, of Orinda.


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