Victor G. Cimino, 72, professor

Victor G. Cimino, 72, of South Philadelphia, an education professor and a world traveler, died Friday, June 20, of heart failure at Methodist Hospital.

For almost his entire adult life, Dr. Cimino was as much a student as he was a teacher, taking classes at Temple University, where he also taught, and maintaining his French language skills as a member of a club in the city.

Dr. Cimino was a professor and instructor at Temple for more than 30 years, focusing mainly on foreign language instruction and special education, and observing student teachers in public schools across the city.

"What drew him to education was his love of learning and academia," said his daughter, Victoria O'Hara.

Among the courses Dr. Cimino continued to take well into his adulthood was an undergraduate world history class. His daughter was a fellow student.

"He always had something to contribute," O'Hara said. "Not that he knew more than the professor, but he would raise his hand and go into deeper detail about a place that he had been and share his experiences."

Dr. Cimino traveled extensively throughout his life, often mixing summer foreign language programs into his travels to other countries. He studied in Austria and Mexico, and at the Sorbonne in France. Later in his career, he taught English in Nigeria and studied French in Montreal with his daughter for six weeks. He was proficient in several languages, including German, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Dr. Cimino grew up in South Philadelphia. He earned a bachelor's degree from La Salle College, two master's, from Temple and Middlebury College, and a doctorate in education from Temple.

He taught at Interboro High School in Delaware County in the mid-1960s before pursuing his advanced degrees. He ascended from instructor to assistant professor at Temple in 1980.

Dr. Cimino lived mostly in South Philadelphia and the Art Museum area and had a house in Brigantine, N.J.

He left teaching in 2006 due to complications with diabetes. But that didn't stop him from continuing to travel. Even when he was losing his eyesight and had trouble walking, he went to Hawaii, the Bahamas, and Morocco.

He also continued to play the piano, another passion, at home and at parties, anything from classical music to Christmas songs.

"Even with all of those health problems, he still traveled," his daughter said. "He still enjoyed life, and his family, and his friends."

In addition to his daughter, Dr. Cimino is survived by son Peter; a brother; two sisters; two grandchildren; and his former wife, Lorraine.

Services were Tuesday. Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, Va. 22311, or Temple University Institutional Advancement, Box 827651, Philadelphia 19182.