82-year-old man dies 3 days after getting graduate degree

London, July 15 (ANI): One of the oldest graduates of Aberystwyth University died on Friday, three days after getting his degree.

82-year-old Roger Roberts, from Aberystwyth, had graduated in economic and social studies in international politics on Tuesday.

Roberts had been keeping unwell during his studies.

On the day of his graduation ceremony, the university had released a statement about his achievement.

The statement said that he had taken longer to complete his degree because he had been ill for the last couple of years of his course.

In the statement, Roberts, who suffered from chronic asthma, said that he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time at the university.

Roberts had spent his career in health service, and Tuesday's graduation had been his second degree after he read American studies in 2005.

Prof Michael Foley, the head of the university's international politics department, said that Roberts had "warmed hearts and raised spirits."

"He impressed his peers and teachers with a combination of fierce determination mixed with a sparkling sense of mischief. He proved decisively that age need be no stranger to success or new experience," the BBC quoted Foley as saying.

"This triumph of the human spirit was reflected in the thunderous applause that greeted his appearance on stage at graduation. There could no better epitaph to his time here," he added.

The university's vice-chancellor Prof April McMahon said that they had been "saddened at the news of Roberts' passing, and honoured that he chose to make Aberystwyth University part of his very long and full life."

"Given his frail health it was a great achievement for him to make it to graduation on Tuesday and one which was greatly appreciated by everyone present," McMahon said. (ANI)