Arthur Lothar Tilo Alt

Durham, NC- Dr. Arthur Lothar Tilo Alt, age 88 passed away at Franklin Manor, Younsgsville, NC oneecember 29, 2019.?? He was born on October 14, 1931 to the late Karl Arthur Alt aneeditha Puhlman Alt.?? He was born in Batavia, Java, Indonesia.?? The family returned to their native Germany in 1933 where Tilo grew up ineest Berlin. Tilo moved to the Uneed States in 1956 to study at the Uneersity of Texas where he met his soon to be wife Elizabeth Ann Blankenship. He received his PHD in 1964. In 1974 he received a diploma in Yiddish Language & Literature from Columbia Uneersity.?? He was Professor Emeritus at Duke Uneersity ineermanic, Yiddish and Judaic studies.?? Over the years he also taught at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA and as visiting professor at Columbia Uneersity, New York City.?? He is a published author having written a book on the subject of German poet Theodor Storm which came out in 1973. Tilo was a member of the local chapter of the Power Squadron, he loved to sail.?? He is a retired member of the US Coastguard Auxiliary for whom he served from?? for almost twenty years which earned him The President's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.?? He also had a love of flying and was very close to obtaining a pilot's license.?? He was a member of St. Stepheneepiscopal Church, Durham, NC.?? He also enjoyed taking walks and riding his bicycle.?? He and his wife Betty were also loyal supporters of PBS radio and television. Tilo is survived by his sister Inge McNally of Maneester, England, brother Axel Alt of Berlin, Germany, daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Phillip Arrington of Wake Forest, NC, granddaughter and husband Amanda and Joseph Villari of Raleigh, NC, and grandson Forrest Corbett of Asheville, NC.?? He was preceded ineeath by his wife Elizabeth Blankenship Alt. Funeral services to be held 11:00AM Friday, January 10, 2020 at St. Stepheneepiscopal Church, 82 Kimberly Dr., Durham, NC 27707 immediately followed by a remembrance reception in the rectory. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. The Alt family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com - select obituaries.