In Memoriam, Fall 2026

Minerva Salinas Guttman, founding associate dean of the William Paterson University School of Nursing, died in October 2026. Guttman joined the University in fall 2023 and helped launch and grow the school from its founding until she stepped down from the role earlier this year. She provided visionary leadership, playing a pivotal role in shaping academic programs, strengthening clinical partnerships, and advancing the institution’s mission of excellence in nursing education. Prior to joining William Paterson, Dr. Guttman served as the Ferguson Endowed Chair in the Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Applied Health at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), where she spent more than two decades. Previously, she served as an assistant dean in the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) School of Nursing and chair of the UMDNJ/Middlesex County College associate’s degree program in nursing. Earlier in her career, she was a nursing professor and administrator at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, and an instructor at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing, Beth Israel School of Nursing, and General Hospital School of Nursing in Manila, Philippines. Guttman served as editor-in-chief of The International Forum for Nursing and Healthcare, the official journal for nursing practice, education, and research at the University of the Philippines and authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. She was the recipient of numerous public and private grants to facilitate research and support nursing programs, faculty, and students. Her many awards and honors include the Diva and Don Award from the New Jersey State Nurses Association Institute of Nursing and the J.V. Sotejo Award for Exemplary Alumni Achievement from the University of the Philippines. A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a bachelor of science degree in nursing, Guttman earned a master of arts in nursing, master of education in adult education, and doctor of education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She held an adult nurse practitioner post-master’s certificate from UMDNJ and was an executive educational leadership fellow at The Wharton School Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

Seth David Himmelhoch, a long-time adjunct professor of music, died on July 10, 2026. He was 66. Himmelhoch, who joined William Paterson as an adjunct, directed the classical guitar program at the University. He was recognized for his performances as a soloist and as a member of the award-winning Duo Cavatina, which made its Carnegie Hall debut after winning the Artists International Auditions. He appeared at major venues including Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y, on broadcasts for WNYC and WQED, and at other venues around the country. Himmelhoch also founded the Suzuki guitar program at the JCC/Thurnauer School of Music in Tenafly and served as chair of the Guitar Development Committee of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. For many years, he coordinated and performed at the Guitarfest, a one-day festival devoted to the classical guitar that was held on the William Paterson campus. He was a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, where he studied with renowned guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima.

Robert Kloss, professor emeritus of English, died on June 27, 2026. He was 91. Kloss, who joined the University faculty in 1969, taught courses in grammar and linguistics. He was instrumental in establishing William Paterson’s Writing Across the Curriculum program, which encourages writing as a discipline among faculty and students. He also served as founding director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, which was established in 1998 to promote innovative teaching and effective learning across the University. The center offers both individual instructional support for faculty and a range of programming on teaching and learning. These services are designed for faculty at all levels of experience who wish to practice effective teaching and advance student learning. In recognition of his extraordinary dedication to teaching and faculty development during his 32 years at William Paterson, the University named the Robert J. Kloss Center for Teaching Excellence in his honor upon his retirement in 2003, ensuring that his passion for education continues to inspire future generations of educators and students. His service to the University included a wide range of academic activities, including the Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, and director of freshman English, among others. Kloss was a graduate of Mansfield State University in Pennsylvania and earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Columbia University.