It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Rita De Grandis, Professor Emerita of Spanish, on April 28th, 2024.
During her illustrious 22-year tenure at UBC before retiring in 2018, Rita made indelible contributions to the Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies—and later the merger into what is now the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS)—where she admirably served as Associate Head on two occasions. Her pivotal role as one of the founding members of the Latin American Studies program significantly shaped its trajectory at UBC.
Not only was she a prolific researcher, but she also supervised over 60 graduate students, leaving an enduring mark on the academic landscape. Her scholarly achievements are exemplified by numerous published articles, chapters, and her acclaimed book Reciclaje cultural y memoria revolucionaria. La práctica polémica de José Pablo Feinmann (Editorial Biblos, 2006), which earned her the Best Book Prize from the Canadian Association of Hispanists in 2007.
Rita will be greatly missed by the FHIS community and beyond.
