Dr. Hart L. Wegner

Born Hartmut Lothar Wegner on October 7, 1931, in Silesia, Germany, Hart’s life journey was marked by resilience, intellect, and a passion for the humanities. At 15, he began working in the coal mines of Germany’s Ruhr District, an early testament to his perseverance. After immigrating to the United States, he served his adopted country with honor as a member of the United States Army, including service in the Korean War. A graduate of the Combat Intelligence School (MIS), he exemplified dedication and resourcefulness.

Dr. Wegner’s academic accomplishments were extraordinary. He studied German Philosophy at the University of Vienna. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Utah, and a Doctor of Philosophy in German Language and Literature from Harvard University. His achievements were recognized by an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Shenandoah University in 1998 and the Umhoefer Prize for Achievements in the Humanities in 2013.

A devoted educator, Dr. Wegner began teaching film history in 1970 and continued to influence the field for decades. His pioneering spirit and dedication to film preservation and analysis have left an indelible mark on the academic and artistic communities.

A professor emeritus of German, Comparative Literature, and Film Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Dr. Wegner founded the Film Studies program at UNLV in 1990, creating a legacy that would inspire generations. Previously, he taught at the University of California, Berkeley, where he led graduate courses in film and comparative literature and succeeded Alain Renoir in teaching these subjects. He also hosted three television series exploring film and its history.

Wegner’s work extended far beyond the classroom. In 1996, he played a pivotal role in bringing the Howard Hughes estate’s film materials to UNLV. His efforts culminated in the 2016 restoration of Hughes’ early film Front Page (1931), for which he was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

An accomplished writer, Wegner’s contributions spanned essays, short stories, poetry, and critical studies. His writings covered diverse subjects, including John Gardner, V. S. Naipaul, Bertolt Brecht, Jean Renoir, Virgil, Goethe, and Josef von Sternberg. He recreated the original screenplay of The Blue Angel (Der blaue Engel) and published two collections of short stories, Houses of Ivory (adapted for the Library of Congress Talking Book Program) and Off Paradise. His works touched readers internationally, including a translation of his short story Off Paradise in the 2021 Polish Silesian journal Wachtyrz and a 2019 translation of two short stories in the Albanian anthology Beti alongside Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Munro, and Margaret Atwood.

Dr. Wegner’s many accolades included the Pushcart Prize, inclusion in Best American Short Stories, the Charles Vanda Award for Creativity, the Regents Award for Creativity, and the William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was the first foreign-born writer inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.

Dr. Wegner was preceded in death by his parents, Oskar and Hildegard Wegner. Hart leaves behind his loving wife, Winnie; son, Burke (Judy) Wegner; stepchildren Chyna Mapel (Michael) O’Keeffe, Jonathan Mapel, and Raina Mapel (Michael) Fein, Walter (Bonnie) Konecny; and grandchildren Harrison, Argenta, Tucker, Falcon, and Sawyer.

Services will be held at Palm Eastern Mortuary and Cemetery in Las Vegas, on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 12:00 to 2:00pm p.m. Friends, family, and colleagues are invited to honor and celebrate his remarkable life.

Gifts of flowers may be sent directly to Palm Eastern Mortuary to be displayed on December 14th.

Dr. Hart L. Wegner’s life reminds us of the power of scholarship, creativity, and the enduring value of the arts in shaping our understanding of the world. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he inspired.