The Graduate Program in Historic Preservation extends our sincerest condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of celebrated heritage professional Dr. Ronald Van Oers, who passed away in late April. Dr. Van Oers was a passionate and committed advocate in the field of heritage conservation, and he will be missed by those who knew him personally as well as those who’ve benefitted from his adventurous, intelligent and ambitious work.
As a UNESCO officer and as Vice Director of the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and the Pacific Region, Dr. Van Oers was instrumental in many World Heritage programs, including Small Island Developing States, urban conservation, and Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape.
In the summer of 2014, Dr. Van Oers worked directly with PennDesign Historic Preservation Graduate students on Historic Urban Landscapes in Shanghai, and continued to mentor and engage with students after the course was completed. His influence on the field will continue to live through his groundbreaking work and many publications. The field of Heritage Conservation has lost a valuable and cherished member.
- Randall Mason, Donovan Rypkema, and the students and faculty of PennDesign’s Graduate Program in Historic Preservation