URBANA – Edwin Jahiel, 85, of Urbana, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, at home.

Edwin Jahiel was born April 9, 1925, in Athens, Greece, the son of Daniel and Mathilde Aelion Jahiel. He married Lenrose Dyess on Jan. 31, 1949, in Greenwood, Miss. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Jessica Jahiel of Sidney; a son, Adam (Laura Sands) Jahiel of Story, Wyo.; and two grandchildren, Jacob Jahiel and Rachel Jahiel.

Mr. Jahiel earned a Ph.D. and attended Athens College (Greece), the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi, FIPRESCI (association of French critics) and the only American ever accepted as a member, Palmes Academiques (France).

When he retired from teaching, the Unit for Cinema Studies created the Edwin Jahiel Fund for Undergraduate Writing in Cinema (an annual award in his honor).

Professor Jahiel taught at UIUC for 47 years. He received various international honors, founded the University of Illinois' Unit for Cinema Studies, reviewed films for The News-Gazette and attended film festivals around the world.

The family would like to thank Carle Hospice. There will be no services.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America or Carle Hospice.