Dr. Robert Joseph Yankow, a former University of St. Thomas associate professor in the Modern and Classical Languages Department, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2010, after a long illness at age 66.

He was born on June 20, 1944 in Bronx, NY, the son of Nicholas and Mary Guman Yankow. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War and continued to serve until his retirement from the Army National Guard. He received his doctorate from Fordham University in Bronx, NY. Robert began teaching both Latin and Greek in 1982 at Strake Jesuit in Houston.

In 1986, he accepted a position at the University of St. Thomas as an assistant professor of classical philology, and taught until he suffered a serious medical crisis in December of 2008. At UST, he taught introductory, intermediate and advanced courses in Latin and Greek, and taught the introductory course for the Honors Program, “The Tribe and the City.” Yankow also served as the director of the Master in Liberal Arts Program from 1989-1997 and chair of the Modern and Classical Languages Department.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his two children, Anna Yankow and William Yankow and his wife Alison; his best friend and companion, Patricia Tiernan Yankow; and many close colleagues, students, and friends.

A visitation with the family will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., on Wednesday, August 11, 2010, at Earthman Southwest Chapel, 12555 South Kirkwood in Stafford, with a Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at the University of St. Thomas Chapel of St. Basil. A reception will follow at Crooker Center. Rite of Christian Burial will be at Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 12.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to the University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose Blvd., Box # 88, Houston, TX 77006.