Blank Blank Blank Resources Send Flowers Now Find Charities Gift Shop 50+ $ave on Car Ins Blank Blank Blank Blank Blank Blank Blank Blank Blank Blank Obituary Richard Luxton | Visit Guest Book Photo Richard Luxton 1950 - 2010 Profesor Richard Neil Luxton lost his battle with cancer on October 5, 2010. He was 60. Richard is remembered for his research in Mayan studies, which ranged in scale from travel writing to translating and deciphering two Mayan colonial books of counsel, for his exploration as an anthropologist studying the art, life, and spirit of the Maya, and for his excellence as a teacher, father, husband, and son. Born on Jan.21, 1950, in Lima, Peru, to English parents, Henry Luxton (predeceased) and Dorothy Inkster. Richard attended Essex University in England and was awarded a B.A. with honors in 1972. After completing his doctoral research and writing The Hidden Continent of the Maya and the Quechua, Richard earned a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1978. Richard was awarded the Poulter Scholarship in archaeology from University of Essex, 1974-76; a British Academy grant, 1979-80; and a Harvard fellow at Dumbarton Oaks, 1981. In 1983, Richard's second book, The Mystery of the Mayan Hieroglyphs: The Vision of an Ancient Tradition with Pablo Balam, was published. Richard founded the Latin American Indian Literatures Association in San Diego, CA. before moving to New England to become full professor of Sociology at Western New England Collage, where he resided as chair of the Sociology department for many years, as well as worked to develop the Criminal Justice and Distance Learning Programs. During the past two decades and working with Mayans Pablo Balam and Valentino Vargas Chulin, Richard translated and deciphered two of the "sixteenth-century Mayan colonial books of counsel. These texts, written in Roman script Maya, are divined readings of now lost, hieroglyphic texts." The first of these, The book of Chumayel : the Counsel book of the Yucatec Maya, 1539-1638, was published in 1995. The second, The Mayan Book of the Chilam Balam of Tizimin Mayan Prophecies 1539-1800, will be published posthumously, as well as Richard's Spanish translation of the same title. Richard Luxton was a dedicated scholar and an acute observer of the Mayan people, especially in the village of Tulum, Mexico, where he was much loved and admired. Richard was an inspiring and highly regarded teacher, and a dedicated father to his three children, Jared James, Maya, and India Luxton. It is hard to accept that we are deprived of his witty English humor, his great love of life, and all of his dreams which will never reach their fruition. Richard was predeceased by his older brother, John. He is survived by his much-loved mother, Dorothy, one brother, Robert, his wife, Melissa, and their three children. All Services are prívate for the family. Please make a donation in Richard's memory to www.kiva.org . To leave a condolence, please visit our website. Published in The Republican on October 10, 2010 Follow this Obituary Follow this Obituary Share this obituary via e-mailEmail to a friend Share this obituary on FacebookShare on Facebook Bookmark this obituaryCreate a Bookmark SharePost on Other Sites Print this Obituary Print this Obituary Guest Book Guest Book Richard Luxton Guest Book | View 2 of 14 Entries: "The Dent family knew Ric and his brother, Robert, from the 1960s in Peru. Our deepest condolences go out to the entire Luxton family. Ric contacted me in September to congratulate us on the birth of..." - *Kathy Sinclair* "I met Ric in Mexico in 1972 when we studied together at UNAM. We later met in London, Ecuador and Washington DC, sustaining a friendship over many years. A superb scholar, an oustanding intellectual..." - *Richard Poole* *View Additional entries from:* Donna Utter (East Longmeadow, MA ) Robert Klein (Wilbraham, MA ) Liana Arguedas (Novato, CA ) Previous 10 Next 10 View Complete List *1 of 1 Photos* Restore the Guest Book now Helpful Resources * How To Submit An Obituary Learn how to place an obituary * In Remembrance Honor those lost in Afghanistan & Iraq * ObitMessenger Obituaries e-mailed to you daily * Find a Charity Locate a charity to make a donation Helpful Resources * Funeral and Memorial Service Etiquette * How to Write a Condolence Note * Empathize, Don't Minimize Loss * Bereavement Groups Can Help * Helping Children Through Grief View more articles at LegacyConnect Didn't find the obituary you were looking for? Return to today's Obituaries for The Republican Follow this Obituary Send me alerts on Facebook when there are updates to the obituary or new entries or photos are added to the Guest Book. 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