INSIDE - Islander Magazine - Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

NEWS & FEATURESMervat Mostafa Abdelsamad November 7, 2009I N M E M O R I A MMervat Mostafa Abdelsamad, formerly Mervat Mostafa Shokry Abdel Halim Abdelaal, passed away on Nov. 7,2009, in Houston, Texas. Mervat attended Cairo University in Egypt where she earned a Bachelor of Commerce inAccounting. Following her marriage to Dr. Moustafa Abdelsamad in 1982, she moved to the United States. After sixyears in Virginia, they moved to South Dartmouth, Mass., before coming to Texas in 1991.Mervat began volunteering at St. James Episcopal School when her children enrolled, and she served as Developmentand Accounting assistant for a number of years. She was also an active volunteer in the College of Businessat Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Since 1997, Mervat has been the vice president for administration for theSociety for Advancement of Management, the oldest professional management association in the world.She is survived by her husband, Dr. Moustafa H. Abdelsamad, dean of the College of Business at Texas A&MUniversity-Corpus Christi; one son, Omar Moustafa Abdelsamad, working in Boston, Mass.; one daughter, DinaAbdelsamad, working in Houston, Texas; her mother, Malaka Abdelaal; her father, Dr. Mostafa Shokry; and hersiblings, including Mona Shokry Abdel Halim and Dr. Mohamed El-Hadidy.Larry W. Barton January 19, 1950 — February 9, 2010Larry Barton joined the staff at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 1993 and, at the time of his retirementin 2004, was assistant vice president of University Services. Larry’s concern was always for the students, that theywould have the best tools available to obtain a higher education. He served as project coordinator for the StudentCenter, and the first two phases of Camden Student Housing. Larry was instrumental in helping to grow theUniversity from a two year to a four year school. Outside of work, some of Larry’s greatest passions were huntingand dancing.He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Cindy; three sons, Forrest Barton of Killeen, Texas, Lance Barton ofCorpus Christi, Texas, and Brock Barton of Corpus Christi; granddaughter, Brianne Barton of Corpus Christi;brother, Jim Barton of Lampassas, Texas; sisters, Glenda Bush, Shirley Pipkin of Killeen, Texas; as well as manyaunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.Nadina Hutchings April 1, 1946 — October 18, 2009Nadina “Nana” Hutchings spent her early life in Cardenas, Cuba. Her family moved to Maracaibo, Venezuela,where Nadina attended high school. Nadina graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physicsfrom the University of Zulia in 1967 and obtained a master’s degree in Mathematical Statistics at the C.I.E.N.E.S.Institute in Santiago de Chile. During the summer of 1978, she began her doctoral studies in mathematics educationat the University of Texas. In September 1981, she was hired as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University-CorpusChristi. She was the first woman hired by the University in mathematics, and became a full professor,serving in that capacity since 1992. She was recognized numerous times for her contributions to mathematicseducation at the local, state, and national levels.Nadina is preceded in death by her father, Jose Antonio Mesa Fernandez, and mother Ludovina ZayasLabrit. She is survived by her loving husband, Claude J. Hutchings; younger brother, Jose Antonio Mesa Zayas, ofBarquisimeto, Venezuela; niece, Monica Beatriz, and her two children, Ulises Daniel and Carlos Manuel; niece,Nadina Elena and her daughter, Michelle; niece, Mariana Elena; and cousins, Marino and wife, Teresa Duran,of Leander, Texas; Jose Luis and Deborah Perez Duran, of Florida; Guillermo Labrit, Los Angeles, Calif.; SilviaLabrit, of Varadero, Cuba; and Raquel and Rosita Llera of Florida.Dan Viola September 26, 1951 — February 13, 2010Dan Viola was hired on May 19, 1997, to resurrect the University’s athletic program which had been dormant since 1973.He started from scratch as the head of a one-person program in an office with one desk and one telephone and built anIslander program that today field teams competing in 12 NCAA Division I sports.Under Viola’s leadership, the Islander softball team won back-to-back Big South Conference championships andmade two appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament while the men’s tennis team dominated opponents in winningthe Southland Conference title while competing as an affiliate member. In addition, the women’s basketball program registeredfive straight winning seasons, including a best-ever 19-9 record in 2003-2004.During his nine years as athletic director, there were several moments that propelled the Islanders into the nationalcollegiate sports spotlight. In 2002, the Islander baseball season grabbed headlines by knocking off the defending nationalchampion Texas Longhorns in their season-opener. In 2001, the Islander men’s basketball team defeated the Texas TechRed Raiders in Lubbock and, two years later, they upset Texas A&M on the Aggies’ home court. Viola is survived by hisbrother, Jeff; sister-in-law, Robin; niece, Natalie; as well as numerous friends in college athletics.6 | T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y - C O R P U S C H R I S T I ■ S P R I N G 2 0 1 0