Robert L. Humphrey, 63, an archaeologist, anthropologist and artist who was a retired George Washington University professor and former anthropology department chairman, died of a cerebral aneurysm Nov. 15 in a hospital in Boston.
Dr. Humphrey, a resident of McLean, was stricken while returning from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where he had a vacation home.
A member of the GWU faculty from 1967 until 1998, Dr. Humphrey served as department chairman from 1971 until 1977 and again from 1980 until 1984. He helped establish university museum and Latin American Study programs.
Over the years, he had taught art and culture courses. He had lectured on New World archaeology, museums and the public, and the cultures of peoples north of the Arctic Circle. He had led university summer field programs in Mesoamerican archaeology and history. He also frequently lectured on cruise ships on such topics as the history of piracy in the Mediterranean.
Dr. Humphrey was the author of books ranging from "Ancient Washington: American Indian Cultures of the Potomac Valley" (1977) to a collection of cartoons, "The Last Elephant," published in 1990 by the Friends of the National Zoo. He also wrote the chapter on the Arctic for the National Geographic's 2001 book "Peoples of the World."
He illustrated articles for Faces, Odyssey and Zoogoer magazines and contributed cartoons to Anthro Notes: Museum of Natural History Publication for Educators. He also had painted and worked in mixed media.
He was a past president of the Anthropological Society of Washington and a fellow of the Explorers Club, and he had served on the landmarks committee of the National Capital Planning Commission. He was a member of the Arctic Institute of North America, American Polar Society, Society for American Archaeology and Sigma Xi scientific research society.
Dr. Humphrey, who settled in the Washington area in 1967, was a native of Dallas. He was a magna cum laude art history graduate of American University and received a doctorate in anthropology from the University of New Mexico.
His marriage to Karen Humphrey ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Johanna, of McLean; a son from his first marriage, Robert, of Garrisonville; and a brother.
