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COLUMBIA COLLEGE TODAY AROUND THE QUADS
teammates to about 50 attending alumni,
including Friends of Columbia Rugby
Alumni Board members Brian Murphy ’84,
Lewis Fischbein ’72, Richard Coppo ’69 and
Richard Luthmann ’01. Among others in
attendance were John Sidtis ’73; Bradford
Higgins ’74, ’78L; James O’Donnell ’74;
Dr. Luke Vaughan ’76; Dr. Peter Beller ’77;
Christopher Sheridan ’90 GS; Peter Hatch
’92; Stuart Dearnley ’01; Mathew Hughes
’01, ’07 Business; Ikenna Ibe ’01E; Jeremy
IN MEMORIAM
n Kathleen McDermott, a senior administrator
known for her kindness, laughter
and wisdom, died on October 16 after a
four-year battle with ALS, also known as
Lou Gehrig’s disease. She was 67.
McDermott was born in the Bronx and
earned an R.N. degree from St. Clare’s
Nursing School in New York, graduating
first in her class, as well as a B.A. from
Lehman College and an M.A. and Ph.D.
from UC Berkeley. She spent many years
teaching and working in Hong Kong,
Wales, Vermont and England.
Among the highlights of her 21-year
tenure with Columbia, she was the College’s
first residential dean in 1991, hired
by then-Dean of Students Roger Lehecka
’67, ’74 GSAS; she was an adviser for
study abroad and fellowships; and she
was on the board of Community Impact
from 1991–2006. In 2007 McDermott
was named a.v.p. and director of global
programs, a position from which she had
recently retired. A trained psychiatric
nurse, colleagues said McDermott spent
many late evenings at St. Luke’s Hospital,
tending to students.
“She was one of those individuals
whose life was her job, and hundreds and
hundreds of students benefited from her
commitment,” Susan Mescher, McDer-
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Mangion ’01E; Christopher Miller ’01, ’08
GSAS; Dr. Daniel Wetmore ’01; Nicholas
Elkins ’02; Augustin Llona ’02; Michele
Connolly ’01; Jessica Grodstein-Kennedy
’01; Becca Parks ’01 Barnard; and Rebecca
Brafman ’04.
A match was played the next evening
against Yale RFC at the soccer stadium to
commemorate club founders John Wellington
’57; Patrick Moran ’63, ’64 Business;
William Smith ’57; and Bill Campbell
mott’s friend and deputy v.p.,
strategic planning in the Vice
President’s Office for Arts and
Sciences, said in a Spectator
article.
In 2010, the NAFSA: Association
of International Educators
selected McDermott as
the recipient of the Education
Abroad Leadership Award,
which recognizes one member
each year for “distinguished
service to the education abroad profession.”
Beyond her professional achievements,
McDermott was admired for her
commitment to family and friendship.
“She’s known for having been unaffected,
tough — in a good way — wise and extraordinarily
energetic with a good sense
of humor,” Mary Dooley, public safety
administrative coordinator, told Spectator.
“She was known for her loving and caring
heart and her ability to reach anyone
in time of need.”
McDermott was predeceased by her
son, Paul Grandpierre ’87, and a nephew,
Michael. She is survived by her daughters,
Claire Grandpierre and Caitlin Bell;
granddaughter, Charlotte Soubirous;
sister, Eileen; and brothers and sisters-inlaw,
Gerry and his wife, Eleanore, Dan
WINTER 2011–12
17
Kathleen McDermott
’62, ’64 TC in a reprise of their initial
match at the old Squadron A Armory a
half-century earlier. As in their inaugural
encounter, Columbia emerged the victor.
Heavy rains could not dampen spirits as
the Old Blue RFC, the club’s alumni benefactors,
hosted a post-match barbecue in
the shelter of Wien Stadium. The weekend
concluded on a sunny Sunday with the
traditional social match between the club
and its alumni.
and his wife, Kathy, and Jim
and his wife, Pam.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Kathleen
McDermott Scholarship
Fund, c/o Eleanor L. Coufos
’03, Columbia College Fund,
Columbia Alumni Center, 622
W. 113th St., MC 4530, 3rd
Fl., New York, NY 10025 or
212-851-7483; or to the Eleanor
and Lou Gehrig MDA/
ALS Center, Office of Development, 100
Haven Ave., Ste 29D, New York, NY 10032.
A memorial service was held at St. Paul’s
Chapel on November 5.
n Tian Bu ’13, from Greenville, S.C., died
on October 23. Known to friends as Tina,
Bu studied psychology. She also was a
talented writer and a gifted artist and
musician; in a Spectator article, former
floormate Jason Han ’12 recalled hearing
her practice violin when he walked past
her room. “I’d stop and appreciate it for a
moment,” Han said. “That’s how I got to
know Tina, moments in passing.”
Bu also was involved in Quest, a national
leadership organization, and was
active in a campus bible study group.
Alexis Tonti ’11 Arts
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