UNM: Professor David Craven is dead

Distinguished professor of art history Dr. David L. Craven, 60, died on Saturday from an apparent heart attack while playing tennis, the family said.

Craven had been a professor at UNM since 1993 and was the fine arts department chair for two years. He published 10 books and more than 150 articles in scholarly journals.

A memorial service is planned for Craven on Friday at 2 p.m. at UNM at the Alumni Chapel.

Nancy Treviso, an administrator in the art and art history department, said the department has lost a unique professor.

“He was a wonderful chair and a wonderful mentor and teacher and he will be missed in this department,” she said. “Someone with that caliber of knowledge, we can’t replace him.”

Craven received his distinguished professor title in 2007 while at UNM. He was fluent in four languages and had traveled the world giving speeches at more than 100 universities.

Kirsten Buick, associate professor and chair at the art and art history department, said Craven was known around the world for his work in the art history field.

“David was a man of letters and a champion for social causes, beloved by all who knew him for his keen intellect, genuine sense of compassion and desire to help others,” Buick told UNM Today. “He was recognized by his peers as one of the most informed and incisive art historians in the world.”

Theresa Avila, a graduate student at UNM, said she had studied under Craven for the past 10 years and is shocked with the loss.

“I’m devastated, as a professor I considered him to be generous and supportive and he is irreplaceable,” she said. “The fact that this happened I don’t think anybody anticipated or prepared for it and.”

Avila will be gradating in May with a doctorate in art history specializing in Mexican art and said she plans to finish to tribute her professor.

“I am going to try and work towards (graduating) in his honor,” she said. “I am just really sad he won’t be able to see me reach our goal.”