Deinós

Dr. Hilaire Kallendorf passed away far too soon on October 15, 2024. She was a highly respected scholar in the field of Comparative Literature and served as Professor of Hispanic and Religious Studies at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Kallendorf was the inaugural keynote speaker of the Rockford University Humanities Conference, first held in 2021, and her participation left a lasting impression on our academic community.

The paragraphs that follow gather reflections and tributes from Dr. Kallendorf’s colleagues, friends, and students, honoring her scholarly contributions, mentorship, and enduring legacy.

“I have always cherished the deep bond I shared with Dr. Kallendorf, and I am confident that my feelings were reciprocated. On July 12, 2012, she gifted me her book of translations of Francisco de Quevedo’s Silvas, which she had recently published in Peru. In the dedication, she beautifully wrote: “For Julio César, esteemed poet and much more than my student. You inspire and encourage me. With all my love, Dr. Kallendorf.”

“Dr. Kallendorf was a member of my dissertation committee, and when I was job hunting, she wrote one of my recommendation letters. Each time I sent an application for a position, I gave her a card expressing my gratitude and referred to her as my guardian angel. She once told me that she treasured those cards. Therefore, when I learned of her passing through social media, I felt compelled to write a tribute to her, which I posted along with a photo of us together: ‘Yours is the grace of our days, Hilaire, guardian angel guiding my path. The birds now absorb their brilliance through you, and we cherish their song. Blessed are those who partake in the immense joy of your wisdom. Yours is a calling for eternity. Very gently, I place in your soul what belongs solely to you. Only to you.’”

Julio César Aguilar

“During my last year of my PhD, Yoandy and I would have lunch every Thursday with Dr. Kallendorf. We talked and laughed like crazy during those meals. She always had a story from the past or an interesting anecdote to share, along with updates on projects and conferences she planned to attend. She inspired us deeply and often expressed how proud she was of us. This encouragement shifted my perspective; I felt that beyond being her students, we were friends. I loved seeing her laugh, especially at Yoandy’s jokes and crazy ideas. I still miss those lunches—they were like therapy for the three of us. We bonded not only professionally but also personally.”

“Once, when she saw me wearing a braided headband, she mentioned that she used to wear similar accessories but felt they no longer suited her style. At our next lunch, she arrived with a bag full of handmade headbands from Italy, crafted from Venetian embroidered silk, to give to me. I was overwhelmed by her kindness and couldn’t believe it. She wanted me to have them because she didn’t know who else to gift them to and would be so pleased to see me wear them. There were headbands of all colors, and I cherished them as treasures. To this day, I keep and wear them. Not a day goes by without someone complimenting me on those beautiful headbands, even strangers. I love to say that they were hers; I wear them with pride. The most touching gift, however, was a Virgin of Guadalupe that Yoandy brought me from Italy. She told me she had bought it from some grandparents raising funds to help Ukrainian refugees. I felt incredibly blessed to receive that Virgin—it was the last gift I received from her.”

Yumary Alfonso

“She always valued your opinion, even when it was different from hers. She could see another perspective of life, thoughts, customs, and culture. Always be respectful of your customs and values.”

“Religion would have been an endless piece of conversation between her and me. Her books and delves will be my consolation. She was an open-minded, critical thinker and researcher; her knowledge, perception, and wisdom will be so, so, so greatly missed.”

Marisabel Azucena

“If you heard her laugh even once, you could recall it anytime—an explosive, liberating, and healing laugh.”

“She was an eagle-eyed friend. She knew me so well that she could guess what my favorite museum in Florence would be. We visited many museums together, starting with the most famous ones, but she saved what she believed would be my favorite for our last day together. And she was absolutely right!”

Yoandy Cabrera

“Dr. Hilaire, not Hillary but Hilaire, Kallendorf was a decorated scholar. She was one of the rare gems in the field of Comparative Literature, and she knew how to command a room. She had a presence about her when she walked into a room… It was electrifying! Her laughter was lively and hearty as well!”

“For her academic achievements that preceded her, you would think she would think she was an academic god (at least from my perspective). No! She was pretty human, the way she related with us in class.”

Ivylove Cudjoe

“Como te dije hace tres semanas: ‘Te echamos de menos por aquí, ¿sabes?’ Y cuando te pregunté si nos veríamos, me dijiste ‘Sí’ con la sonrisa de siempre. Recordaré esa sonrisa.”

Rick Curry

“Hilaire and I talked of faith and family whenever we came in contact with each other. She loved her son very much and spoke of his soccer games and other things in life. My son was going through a depressive bout, and she freely gave us a copy of her father’s book in hopes it would help. She understood the importance of individual/family dynamics before academics, something that is becoming rarer and rarer these days in the academic world, meaning, it’s all based on what you can put on a CV and your career rather than truly serving others. I didn’t ever feel that from her. I am grateful for the opportunity to know Hilaire. She was well-liked because she was easy to work with.”

Carl Gutke

“No matter how close we became, I couldn’t seem to call her ‘Hilaire.’ She was forever “Dr. Kallendorf” to me. She always had a tube of bright lipstick and wasn’t afraid to reapply it during class. I really loved that about her. To me, the habit was her metaphor for women in academia, of which she was an avid and staunch supporter. Not just our presence, but that women feel empowered to live a full, satisfying life while also navigating historically male-centered and dominated environments. She lived, and encouraged others to live, authentically.”

“She once told me, ‘I just want you to be happy. Whatever you choose, choose what’s going to make you happy.’ Those of us who know and love Dr. Kallendorf will always remember the ways in which she supported, encouraged, advocated, and cared for us. To her, we weren’t just students. She insisted we were colleagues (and friends), and sometimes she insisted she was acting as my mom.”

Amy King

“To say that she was very organized is a disservice; she was so organized and detail-oriented that the materials for a class in, say, the Fall semester were available as early as July.”

“Her most remarkable characteristic is that of her faith; she remained guided by the Christian faith despite growing intolerance and even harassment.”

Carolyn Mohajeri

“I will always remember Dr. Kallendorf as an outstanding scholar and a great professor. She supported me during a challenging time at the end of my graduate studies, not only as a member of my committee but as a leader who was unafraid to hold her colleagues accountable. Her workshop on poetry translation was one of the highlights of my time in College Station. I regularly think back on those afternoons with a wide smile. She even organized and hosted a baby shower at her home for my wife, and for which we will always be grateful. She could seamlessly switch roles, becoming a sort of big sister or a cool aunt to us, a quality that came naturally to her. And her laugh, her loud, contagious, wonderful laugh. We will always remember Dr. Kallendorf.”

Murat Rodríguez Nacif

“Para mí, la Dra. Kallendorf fue un bálsamo para el alma. Era su calidad de madre protectora. Su calidad de amiga incondicional. Su calidad de mentora exigente. Su calidad de persona generosa. Llegó en un momento difícil y me dijo: ‘Yo sabía que vendrías’. Me hubiese gustado verla después de graduarme, pero la distancia y el silencio se impusieron. Doctora Kallendorf, espero que su alma esté en reposo. Le tendré siempre cariño y admiración, y su modelo de guía lo llevaré conmigo por el resto de mi vida.”

Damián Robles

“In January of 2018, Hilaire and I attended a conference in Ireland. During that trip, we roomed together in a student dorm. The availability of hot water was very limited. Hilaire wanted to take a long, relaxing bath before bed, but there was not enough warm water for that. She would heat water on the stove every night to be able to take her bath.”

“She also bought two extra suitcases. One for her and one for me. She filled up both with coats and other things she bought in Ireland. I had to bring one home with me, and she brought the other one herself.”

Amelia Uribe-Guajardo