Gerold Hilty (Samedan, Grisons, 12 August 1927-Oberrieden, Zurich, 6 December 2014) In memoriam

Abstract

This obituary pays tribute to the figure of Gerold Hilty (Samedan, Grisons, 12 August 1927-Oberrieden, Zurich, 6 December 2014). He began his studies in Romance and Germanic Philology at the University of Zurich in the autumn semester of 1947-1948. In the studies of German Linguistics and Literature he followed mainly the professors Emil Staiger and Manu Leumann. At the University of Madrid he was a student of Ramón Menéndez Pidal, Dámaso Alonso, Rafael Lapesa and Emilio García Gómez. He received his doctorate from the University of Zurich in 1953. His scientific honesty stands out, which he managed to pass on to his students. Hilty was also instrumental in creating new posts at the Romanesque Seminary. Finally, this teacher was able to immediately perceive that the interest of the students and the growth of Spanish was more due to Latin American literature and cultures than to philology stricto sensu.