Thomas Africa, professor at Binghamton University, died at his Estes Park, Colorado home on March 6. He was 88 years old.

Africa received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) before spending seven years in the U.S. Army serving in Korea and Germany, eventually rising to the rank of master sergeant. In 1959, he received his Ph.D. from UCLA and in 1960 began his teaching career at Louisiana State University and the University of Southern California before arriving at BU in 1969.

A professor of ancient history, Africa was the first professor in the history department whose primary focuses were Greece and Rome. His most notable published work, “The Immense Majesty: A History of Rome and the Roman Empire,” was published in 1974. Africa occupied multiple positions within the history department, such as department chair and professor emeritus, before retiring from BU in 1995.

As a professor, Africa was known for his sharp wit, humor and honesty, according to Jean Quataert, a BU professor of women, gender and sexuality studies. She said that his progressive actions as a historian, which included helping the BU history department operate at the forefront of methodological innovations during his tenure, is part of what made him stand out.

“He was a classical historian, trained before many of the innovations in the ways historians do research–women’s history in specific but also social history,” Quataert wrote in an email. “Unlike many of his generation — frankly — he was open and excited about continuously new inquiry and made me (I was initially brought in as Women’s Studies director) very welcome.”

Gerald Kadish, a former BU history professor and a friend of Africa’s, said that his colleague’s impact on the University reached farther than just the history department.

“He was probably the strongest — one of the strongest intellects the history department has ever had,” Kadish said. “He was quite remarkable. A first-rate mind and not only as a historian but as an insightful surveyor of the human condition.”

While Kadish said he wanted to make clear that Africa was never anything but kind when dealing with his students, he said the professor could be a very imposing figure. Above Africa’s desk were two very dark, ominous-looking bird statues sculpted by a former member of the art department.

“You would come in if you were in a seminar, you would sit at the table and face them with these glowering birds behind him,” Kadish said. “It was scary.”

One of Africa’s former graduate students, Frank Vatai, who has gone on to work as a professor at California State University, Northridge, said he also noted Africa’s kind nature in comparison to the intimidating figure he struck. Vatai recalled Africa entering the seminar room smoking and drinking black coffee, ready to direct discussion with the humor and wit that awed his colleagues and students.

“He had somehow got hold of a life-size sculpture of a convocation of eagles and it was in front of these grim black birds that Africa would sit down and hold court,” Vatai said. “What made the seminars worthwhile and unforgettable was Africa’s amazing sense of humor.”

Africa is survived by his wife, Sandra Peacock and his two children.