Oberlin professor Pipo Nguyen-Duy killed alongside wife by son
The award-winning photographer and 2026 Guggenheim Fellow died Wednesday in his home after his 31-year-old son was charged with two murders.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Oberlin College professor Pipo Nguyen-Duy and his wife, Tran Thi Phong, were found fatally shot at their home on S Pleasant St on Wednesday. Police arrested Daniel Jones, 31, the couple's son, and charged him with the deaths of his father and stepmother. The sudden loss has shaken the small college town, where students and faculty are grappling with the shock of losing a central figure in their daily lives.
Nguyen-Duy had been a fixture at the college since 1998. He arrived in the United States from Vietnam in the mid-1970s as a political refugee and built a career as a renowned photographer. His work is currently on display at the Allen Memorial Art Museum on campus. The college identified him as a Guggenheim Fellow and described him as a cherished colleague who maintained a vibrant presence in the classroom and throughout the campus community.
Students recall Nguyen-Duy as a mentor who went beyond academic instruction. Liam Donahue, a student in Nguyen-Duy's photography program for the past two years, said the professor was like family. Donahue stated that Nguyen-Duy pushed his artistic development in ways that changed his work. "I'm never going to forget the influence that he's had on my life so far, my life as an artist and my life in general," Donahue said.
The professor was known for his personal interests as well as his professional achievements. In a video shared on the college's social media last year, Nguyen-Duy listed his essential items. "I can't live without my camera, I can't live without my motorcycle and I cannot live without my Vietnamese food," he said. Fellow student Evan Lee remembered the professor's skill at ping-pong, noting that he played several games with Nguyen-Duy and lost every time.
The community is processing the tragedy amid bright fall weather. Student Colby Chase expressed disbelief at how quickly someone can disappear from daily life. "The fact that you can be talking to someone one day and the very next day they're just completely gone, it's crazy," Chase said. Evan Lee added that it takes time for everyone to digest the news.
Oberlin College is finalizing plans to memorialize Nguyen-Duy. The institution is offering support services to students and staff affected by the deaths. Nguyen-Duy's photography program continues to serve as a focal point for those who knew him as both an educator and a person.
Police have not released further details on the timeline of the Wednesday shooting. The arrest of Daniel Jones marks the first step in the criminal process following the discovery of the two victims at their residence.
