April 8, 1935 — July 21, 2025
Charles (Chuck) Ryberg, professor of English at Southern Oregon University, died on July 21, 2025, at home in Portland, Oregon.
He was born April 8, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. He taught literature and writing for 40 years.
Throughout those years, he dedicated himself to his students and to enhancing faculty-administrative relations. He was proud to be a founder of the Faculty Senate and later to be a force in forming the American Association of University Professors, a legally empowered union.
In later years, he successfully negotiated, along with his colleague, the late Ed Versluis, salary and other benefits with the state. One important visible effect of these negotiations was to bring female faculty the same salaries as men.
His strong sense of collaboration led him to encourage and initiate faculty social gatherings, as well as social gatherings among his students. It was important for him to know his students and for them to know each other.
One of his favorite stories was how legendary singer Lead Belly bounced him on his knee during a visit to his jazz-loving parents’ Chicago home. Another memory he liked to share was how he and his wife, Barbara, hosted Friday night spaghetti dinners for students in their Beaumont, Texas, apartment. One of those students was Janis Joplin.
His education began at Purdue University, where he studied physics, before moving to the University of Illinois, where in 1957 he earned his bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and also married his wife, Barbara. Later, he received his master’s degree in writing from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. It was then that he accepted an instructor of English position at Lamar State College in Beaumont, Texas, where he taught for two years before doing postgraduate work at the University of Oregon. While in Eugene, he accepted a position at Southern Oregon College.
During his long tenure, his favorite course was 20th Century Literature in Translation, one that he developed and taught for 12 years. He intended the course for non-English majors, and many were attracted to it.
After retirement, Chuck and Barbara moved to a loft in Portland’s Pearl District, where he enjoyed walking the avenues. It was there that he also continued his lifelong interest in photography. He focused on the very old gum bichromate process, and was mentored over the internet. He went on to produce many successful photos.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Erik; and nieces and nephews. May he be remembered as a gentleman, a scholar, and a boulevardier.
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