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Canisius College is mourning the loss of Justine D. Price, PhD, associate professor of fine arts and director of the art history program, who died unexpectedly yesterday. A brief prayer service was held last night at Christ the King Chapel. A service for the entire Canisius community will be scheduled for a later date.

Justine joined the Canisius Fine Arts Department in 2005 and quickly became an active and much beloved member of the campus community. In addition to teaching art history, Justine also taught seminars in the All-College Honors Program. She was active in the Faculty for Study Abroad Programs and participated in the London-Metropolitan Study Abroad Seminar for Canisius students in January 2010, and the exchange between Canisius and the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts with the Digital Media Program in the Communication Studies Department for a number of years.


Justine D. Price, PhD (right) on a Kairos retreat with Mark Makar ’11 (left) and Nadean Bettilyon ’12 (center).

Outside the classroom, Justine participated in the Ignatian-based Kairos retreats with fellow faculty, students and staff. She was also a faculty mentor for this past summer’s service-immersion trip to Poland.


Justine D. Price, PhD (2nd row, far right) with students on this past summer’s service-immersion trip to Poland.

Justine was a big booster and fan of the Golden Griffin Hockey Team, many of whom she also taught in her art history classes. “Justine’s heart and soul were every bit the measure of her intellect,” said Rev. Michael Tunney, S.J., director of mission and identity and former director of studio art. “In and out of class she showed her students and colleagues how to live a smart, beautiful and joyful life. Her passing is a shock and deep sadness for all of us.”

Justine earned a bachelor’s degree at Bryn Mawr College. She earned both master and doctor of philosophy degrees at The University of Texas at Austin. Her areas of research and specialties included 20th century American painting and art criticism, critical and art-historical methodologies including Frankfurt and Vienna Schools, contemporary critical theory, 19th century French painting, as well as the pictorial and technical origins of photography to its contemporary practice. She was fluent in French and also had reading knowledge of German and Latin.

Justine Price leaves behind her mother, father, stepmother and sister.  Please remember Justine and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Submitted by: Public Relations