Campus Mourns Passing of Beloved Colleague, Instructor
Colleagues and students on campus are mourning the death of Weber State University mathematics instructor Diane Pugmire, who passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the age of 52.
Media reports attribute Diane’s death to bacterial pneumonia with complications from H1N1 flu virus.
Services include a viewing on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 5-7 p.m. at the Riverdale Stake Center, 4000 Parker Drive in Riverdale. An additional viewing will be held Monday, Nov. 2 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. with funeral services starting at 11 a.m. at the Riverdale Stake Center.
A scholarship has been established in Diane’s name.
Diane was an award-winning instructor in the Department of Mathematics at WSU. She and longtime colleague Dixie Blackinton were recently named Educators of the Year by the Utah Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (UASCD). She touched the lives of thousands of students since first coming to teach at WSU in 1984.
Diane was passionate about working with student teachers and giving them the skills to be successful in the classroom, especially the ability to explain mathematical concepts to elementary school children.
In addition to educating university students, Diane and Dixie developed in-service professional development programs for teachers in local school districts.
“Diane Pugmire was one of those faculty members who had a true passion for teaching and a tremendous commitment to helping students succeed, even when they themselves didn’t have confidence in their own mathematical abilities. Diane cared about each and every student she worked with” according to Dale Ostlie, dean of the College of Science. “Diane was especially dedicated to ensuring that new elementary education teachers had the knowledge and skills to help young children understand mathematics and build a solid foundation for their future education.”
An alumna of Weber State College, Diane earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the institution in 1978 and 1990 respectively.
On behalf of the faculty, staff and students at Weber State University, we extend our deepest sympathies to Diane’s family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
The Diane Pugmire Memorial Scholarship has been created to honor the memory of Diane and the wonderful teacher, mentor and friend she was.
The Pugmire family has asked those who knew Diane to e-mail memories and stories to dianepugmire@gmail.com to help compile a memory book. You can also express condolences or post a memory about Diane on WSU's Facebook page or YouTube page.
To Donate:
Mail a check (written to WSU, with Diane Pugmire Scholarship on the memo line) to:
WSU Development Office
4018 University Circle
Weber State University
Ogden, UT 84408-4018
Go to weber.edu/give and click on “click here to make an online gift.” On the next screen select ‘OTHER’ and type in Diane Pugmire Memorial Scholarship in the comment field.
- John Kowalewski, director of Media Relations
801-626-7212 • jkowalewski@weber.edu