Tuesday, August 11, 2020

It is with sadness that UNCW shares the news of Charles Albert Lewis Jr’s. passing on August 5, 2020. Lewis, emeritus professor of Health and Applied Human Sciences, first joined UNCW in 1982. He was department chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, which is now the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences.

“Dr. Lewis was a wonderful human being and very supportive of the building of the College of Health and Human Services,” said Charles “Charlie” Hardy, founding dean of the CHHS. “I enjoyed his counsel on numerous issues as we developed the college. He had a contagious positive outlook on life and loved UNCW.”

Lewis received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1996 and the Distinguished Teaching Professorship in 1997. In 2014, he was inducted into The Order of Isaac Bear. He also taught at Hunter College, The University of New Hampshire, SUNY Cortland, Georgia College and State University and Cape Fear Community College.

Lewis’ fellow retired faculty colleagues Jim Herstine and Bob Buerger note the impact he left during his more than 30-year tenure at UNCW.

“He was an administrator, teacher, mentor, colleague and friend extraordinaire. Charlie lived life to its fullest and did all in his power to encourage and permit those around him to do the same,” said Herstine.

Buerger notes that “students, colleagues, and the greater UNCW community were all the benefactors of Charles’ efforts. In all encounters he sought to bring about enlightenment, greater understanding and friendship.” 

Lewis is survived by his wife Helga Maria Gunkel Lewis, daughters Kirstin Helga Lewis Hansford and Heidi Marie Lewis Vincent and son in laws Mark Hansford and Jason Vincent. He is also survived by a sister Ann Caroline Lewis Walter (George) and brother Burchard Hults Lewis (Antoinette). He was predeceased by brother Edward Thomas Lewis.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date. A full obituary may be read online.