Robert Melnick, dean of the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, is back in Eugene after a heart attack during spring break stranded him on the East Coast.
Melnick has served as dean of A&AA for 10 years and is serving his last year in the position.
He said he suffered a heart attack that required a triple-bypass, open-heart surgery while visiting family in Massachusetts. His surgery prevented him from traveling by plane and his doctor ordered him to rest and said he should return to work in May.
Doug Blandy, associate dean for academic affairs for the department, has been appointed to fill the dean position while Melnick is on medical leave, Melnick said.
Melnick said he misses his coworkers, but he appreciates the support he has gotten from everybody.
“I’m getting hundreds of cards and e-mails from people, so that’s just been remarkable,” Melnick said. “At one point my room was filled with flowers.”
Tracy Bars, assistant to the dean, said people from around the country have sent cards to the school for
Melnick, who is highly regarded nationally in the field of landscape architecture. She added that she sent cards the school received to him while he was on the east coast.
“I probably sent between 50 and
75 over the course of the first few weeks,” Bars said, adding that she still receives about five per week for him.
— Jared Paben