Assessing How We Define Diversity - Seattle University

in memoriam
Nabiha Annan, ’55, died July 16, 2007. She
was 75. Born in Maghadouchi, Lebanon, as
one of nine children, Annan came to Seattle,
where she attended school and became active
in the community. The matriarch of her family,
she loved gardening, bowling, ballroom dancing
and music. Friends and family remember
Annan as a devoted Catholic with a forgiving
heart. For 20 years she worked as a realtor in
the region. Annan is survived by her children,
Melia Nemeyer, Nichola Annan and Tina
Tadena; brothers; grandchildren, William,
Michael, David, Trevor, Ian, Gabriel and Alex;
and five great-grandchildren.
Duane Browning, ’68, died June 8, 2007,
following a prolonged illness. He was 60.
Born in Seattle on Oct. 19, 1946, as the only
child of Dr. John Browning and Ola Browning,
Duane developed a strong interest in music at
an early age. A passion for music led him to
start a band and hit the road, which he did after
graduating from Seattle University. As he built
on his knowledge of the industry, Browning
transitioned from artist to manager, which
led to managing roles with Bob Dylan, Jimi
Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone, among
others. In 1981, Browning married Madgalyn
Broussard and four years later welcomed their
son, Brandon. When he was diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis in 1981, Browning didn’t let
the disease slow him down; his zest for life was
as strong and infectious as ever. He actively
participated in peer counseling, fundraisers and
group seminars benefiting those living with
MS. Through his outreach he encouraged many
people, particularly African-American men,
to continue to live full lives while living with
MS. He received several awards and honors
for community work, including the Geri
Esten Peer Counselor of the Year in 1991
and the Shevy Healey Outstanding Peer
Award in 2000. Browning is survived by his
wife of 26 years, Madgalyn; son, Brandon;
and mother, Ola.
Mary “Lois” Byrne, ’46, died Feb. 28, 2007.
Byrne attended elementary and high school at
Holy Names Academy, graduating in 1942.
At Seattle University she earned a bachelor’s
degree in medical technology. She enjoyed her
professional career of 43 years, which began
at Providence Hospital, where Byrne was a
hematology technologist and instructor. In
1971, after she worked as a chief technologist at
a private laboratory operated by the Providence
Hospital Pathologists, Byrne went to work for
Group Health in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
In 1989, she retired from Group Health’s
Tukwila, Wash., campus, where she worked in
the microbiology department. Byrne lived her
entire life in the family home on Capitol Hill,
where she always extended a joyful welcome to
folks coming for a visit, a vacation or a lifetime.
She enjoyed frequent cross-country travel by car
or RV with relatives and friends. Byrne was a
competent, content and congenial woman whose
devout faith and devotion guided her life. She
is survived by numerous cousins, godchildren,
neighbors and longtime friends. Her hospitality,
“Irish-ness” and loving way will be greatly
missed. Donations may be made in Byrne’s
name to the Oregon Province of the Society of
Jesus (specify “for the education of priests”), PO
Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286; Sisters of the
Holy Names, Washington Province, 2911 W.
Fort George Wright Dr., Spokane, WA 99224;
or Carmelite Monastery, 2215 N.E. 147th,
Shoreline, WA 98155.
Donald Edward Cain, ’57, died March 6,
2007, in Shelton, Wash. He was 71. Cain grew
up in Madison, Wis., and moved to Seattle
in 1948. After graduating from O’Dea High
School in 1953 and Seattle University in 1957,
he served as a captain in the Army National
Guard. In 1962 he married Mernie in Anchorage,
and five years later they returned to the Seattle
area. For more than 20 years he taught in the
Northshore School District. He is survived by
his wife, Mernie; daughters, Heidi and Beth;
sons, Eric, Galen, Garm and Damien; brother,
Vincent; and 17 grandchildren. Cain was preceded
in death by his mother, Gladys.
Delbert Lee Coughlin, ’66, died June 22,
2007. He was 77. A beloved husband and
father, Coughlin was born in Centralia, Wash.,
and graduated from Onalaska High School
in 1948. A year later he began service in the
Army, rising to the rank of staff sergeant,
Machine Records Unit, 9th Infantry, 6th
Army, at Fort Lewis, Wash. He left the service
in 1958. After earning a bachelor’s degree
from Seattle University, Coughlin worked as
a computer programmer and systems analyst
for NC Machinery in Tukwila until his retirement
in 2005. Coughlin is survived by his
wife, Rosemary; daughters, Candace Lee and
Sheri Eloise; sons, Christopher Collins and
Scot Brian; grandchildren, Patricia, Heather
and Nathan; and great-grandchildren, Kelsey,
Tyler, Garrett and Bryan. He was preceded in
death by his first wife, Joyce Ellen Coughlin.
Margaret Mary Davies, a longtime professor
at Seattle University, died June 17, 2007. She
was 94. Davies was born in Seattle, where she
grew up and where her passion for education
and the academic world was nurtured. Davies
earned a bachelor’s degree in literature at the
University of Washington and later returned
to the UW to earn a doctorate in political science
and economics. In 1945 she joined the
staff of the American delegation at the United
Nations and later moved to Washington, D.C.
Davies became part of a team that went to
Greece to implement the Marshall Plan in the
late 1940s. After returning to Seattle in 1960,
Davies joined the faculty of the SU economics
department, where she taught until her retirement
in 1978—she was the department’s first
female faculty member with a doctorate. Davies
was devoted to her family, friends and teaching,
and gave much to the community through her
involvement in various Catholic charities and
the Council on Aging. Davies is survived by
her sister, Patricia Hertrich; and many nieces
and nephews. She was preceded in death by her
sister, Elizabeth Linden.
Margaret “Peggy” Devney, ’70, died June
5, 2007, after a battle with cancer. She was 59.
Born in Minnesota and raised in Ellensburg,
Wash., Devney earned a nursing degree from
Seattle University and a master’s degree in nursing
from Texas Woman’s University. In 1975
she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where
she began a long career in nephrology nursing.
Devney was respected for her expertise in the
field and as a stalwart of patient advocacy. She
is survived by her partner, Patrick; children,
Scott, Shealan and Sheryn; grandchildren, Cyrus
and Rylee; sisters, Anne and Kiki; and brothers
Patrick and Bill. Donations may be made to the
Peggy Devney Memorial Fund at the UCSF
Foundation, PO Box 45339, San Francisco, CA
94145-0339.
Val Foubert, ’51, died March 9, 2007. He was
82. Born in Wenatchee, Wash., Foubert came
to Western Washington when his family relocated
to Issaquah. Following graduation from
Issaquah High School in 1942, he worked for
the Seattle Port of Embarkation and the Army
Adjutant General–Seattle Port before enlisting
in the Army. He served from 1943–1946
in the Army Transportation Corps and 5th
Engineer Special Brigade during World War II.
Foubert was involved in the Allied invasion of
Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, landing
on Omaha Beach with the 5th Engineer Special
42 | Alumni Focus