Preller, a life of selflessness

Throughout his lifetime, professor emeritus Victor Preller '53 delighted in sharing his academic wisdom and spiritual guidance with others.

In 1959, when Preller was a graduate student in religion at the University, the department's founder described him in a recommendation letter as "willing to spend any amount of time with a man who needs help."

During his tenure as master of the graduate college, Preller invited his graduate students to the master's suite for one-on-one discussions accompanied by several pots of tea and a selection of classical music.

Later in his life, even while battling cancer and emphysema, Preller continued to serve as a spiritual adviser and friend to his parishioners at All Saints' Church in Princeton, where he served as an Episcopal minister.

"He viewed everyone with remarkable tolerance and was extremely understanding," said history professor Peter Brown, who attended Preller's Eucharist services at All Saints' Church. "If anyone was in distress or trouble, he was always a ready listener, somebody you felt you could speak your heart to."

Preller — who taught in the University's religion department for over 30 years — died of pneumonia Jan. 19.

A gifted scholar, Preller devoted much of his academic career to the in-depth study of philosophers Thomas Aquinas and Ludwig Wittgenstein. In 1967, his book "Divine Science and the Science of God" introduced a new interpretation of Aquinas.

"Everyone I know who knows Victor thinks he's the smartest man they've ever met," said religion professor Mark Larrimore, a graduate student of Preller's.

Preller — a philosophy major at the University — mastered a variety of foreign languages, including Sanskrit, which he taught himself in order to pursue his interest in Buddhism and ancient Hindu philosophy. Throughout his career, he read all his sources in the languages in which they were written — many times ploughing through entire foreign texts without the use of a dictionary, Larrimore said.

But even as he awed his students, colleagues and parishioners with his extensive knowledge and erudite philosophies, Preller possessed a remarkable ability to communicate with all those around him.

"He was a compassionate, caring man," said Pat Lincoln, a former member of All Saints' Church. "He had an amazing heart for people and could relate to people. He could speak to you from his heart. He was a very wise man. I cherished his wisdom."

Lincoln — who also suffered from cancer — shared a unique bond with Preller in their battle against the disease.

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"He was a great guide for me . . . he was a spiritual adviser, but he was also a friend," she said.

In his leisure time, Preller deeply enjoyed listening to his music collection, which boasted over 3,000 compact discs, mostly by 20th century Scandanavian and Slavic composers.

At home, Preller would sit in his armchair — with his cat Puss perched atop the headrest — and delight in the sounds of the jazz, opera and classical music that flowed from his ceiling-to-floor stereo speakers.

"He was genuinely able to combine a very deep philosophical seriousness with a tremendous love of life," said Brown.

"It's a terrible loss as a friend," said religion professor Shaun Marmon. "I admired him very much. And I loved him."