Professor Emeritus Quenzel Passes Away

Forty years worth of Emerson history lies on the shoulders of George Quenzel, the highly respected Professor Emeritus. Emerson mourns his passing on July 11, 2012 after a long battle with illness at the age of 84.

Quenzel’s legacy includes his pioneering efforts with Emerson’s Visual and Media Arts Department and its predecessors from 1958 to 1998. He was responsible for the development of several components of the department including assisting with the modernization of the television production program as well as teaching the first film production and film studies classes at the college.

In 1981, Professor Emeritus, along with Special Events Director Brooks Russell, took a group of Emerson students across the country to Los Angeles for a month-long excursion to Hollywood in order for the students to gain first-hand experience in the entertainment industry. These students had the opportunity to visit the sets of several shows such as The Jeffersons, Happy Days, CBS News, and The Merv Griffin Show, as well as the opportunity to meet with executives in the industry. The Hollywood Program would become what is known today as Emerson College Los Angeles.

Quenzel also founded the first New England chapter of the National Broadcasting Society, Alpha Epsilon Rho, at Emerson in the 1960s. His contributions as a faculty advisor were recognized locally as well as on a national level and he hosted the organization’s regional conference in 1991.

Professor Emeritus served in the Navy upon graduation from high school in 1945, serving on the USS Iowa and was present for the signing of the peace treaty with Japan during his military career. He later attended Hofstra College with a major in theater technology and acting and went on to attend the University of Iowa, receiving his master’s and doctorate in theater. He also had a graduate teaching assistantship in television production.

Quenzel will be remembered not only a pioneer at the college but as an avid Red Sox fan, husband, and father. His legacy at Emerson will be remembered for many years to come.

By Alex Parker