Long-time communications studies professor dies from heart attack

   Richard Doetkott, communications studies professor, died this morning from a heart attack.

   Doetkott gave a final exam last Monday, said Fran Dickson, chair of the communication studies department. He had his first heart attack last Tuesday, followed by bypass surgery. He died Wednesday morning from a second heart attack. Doetkott taught at Chapman for 47 years, where his Communications Studies 101 class was a favorite among students.

   "He was such a major figure in our program and the university," Dickson said. "A lot of people will be hit by this."

   Doetkott is the second faculty member in the communications studies department who has died in the last in two years. Richard Watson died at the beginning of 2010.

Dickson sent an email to the Wilkinson faculty at 11 a.m. announcing Doetkott's death.

   "The family is in the process of making arrangements and they have asked that you respect their privacy during this difficult time by not attempting to contact them," Dickson wrote. "We will keep you informed about details as the family shares them with us."

   The news spread quickly across campus. Jerry Price, vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, said he learned about Doetkott's death this afternoon.

   "I did hear a few days ago that he had gotten suddenly ill," Price said.

   Students in Doetkott's class said he conducted the final exam for his Monday class last week, but then called in sick for his Tuesday class.

   Catherine Tran, a sophomore business major, took Doetkott's public speaking class this semester. Several minutes after her Tuesday final exam was supposed to start, Tran said a woman entered the room and said Doetkott would not be attending because of an illness.

   "It was really out of character because he always showed up and was cheerful," Tran said. "He was one of my favorite professors because he let us speak about whatever we wanted as long as we were passionate about it."

Check back through out the week for updates on this story.