Obituary of Hellmut W. Hager

Dr. Hellmut W. Hager, 89, of State College, died Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at home. Born March 27, 1926, in Berlin, Germany, he was the son of the late Joseph and Frieda A. Graham Hager. On March 9, 1968, in Rome, Italy, he married Maria Sportelli, who survives. In addition to his wife, Maria, he is survived by extended family members. He earned a PhD in Art History from the University of Bonn, Germany. He then served as Scientific Assistant at the German Library for Italian Art in Rome (Bibliotheca Hertziana.) Dr. Hager taught Italian and German Baroque and Rococo Architecture at Penn State from 1971 until 2001, retiring as Professor Emeritus. He also served as the Head of the Art History Department from 1972 until his retirement in 1996. Renowned for his contributions to International journals, conferences and research. Dr. Hager was made Academician of St. Luca in Rome, and was honored with an Evan Pugh Professorship from the Pennsylvania State University. A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College, with the Reverends Neil Dadey and Matthew Laffey officiating. A visitation will immediately follow at the church. Burial will be in Spring Creek Presbyterian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.