Private services were held Wednesday in San Diego, California, for Fort Hays State University associate professor of German Dr. Avi Kempinski, 53.  Kempinski died suddenly Sunday afternoon at his home in Hays.

A public memorial service will be held Friday evening at 7 o’clock in the Rarick Hall Moss Thorns Gallery.

According to FHSU Dean Paul Faber, the family requests Kempinski be honored by contributions to a memorial fund for FHSU students wishing to study in Germany.

Kempinski had been at teaching at Fort Hays State for six years.