In Memoriam: 1980s

Notices sorted by graduation date

Patricia Ann Kent (Educ ’85) of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, died Jan. 2, 2018. She was a teacher for 40 years, spending the last 15 as a special education teacher after she earned her master’s degree from the University. In retirement, she started a business, Tiny Tot Cakes, where she used her creative talents to make unique baby shower gifts. She loved crossword puzzles, sewing, crafts and painting. She went by  “Nana” to her family, and she was known for looking out for family and helping where she could. She loved when the family was together, whether at beach vacations, graduations or Christmas at her home. Survivors include her six children, 14 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Melanie M. Crotty (Engr ’86 L/M) of Oakland,California, died Nov. 6, 2017. At the University, she was a member of the Trigon Engineering Society. As an engineering major, she was exceedingly proud of her C in Physics and would not let it deter her. After graduating, Ms. Crotty worked for several years in Washington, D.C., for ANSER, a public service research institute. She then attended graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned master’s degrees in transportation engineering and city planning. Ms. Crotty served as a director of traveler coordination for 25 years at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco, California, where she was responsible for implementing innovative, cost-effective solutions to improve the travel experience throughout the Bay Area. She also served on the board of directors for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, promoting public and regulatory policies that advance the development and deployment of intelligent transportation technologies throughout the United States. She enjoyed her job immensely as she embraced efficiency in everything, and her colleagues knew her as a leader with vision, tenacity, spirit and an engineer’s mind and competitive nature that embraced complexity and welcomed challenges. Ms. Crotty was smart, kind and generous. She loved to laugh and hear others laugh, loved what she referred to as T.G.O.S (the game of soccer) and was dedicated to her magnificent succulent garden in her Oakland, California, backyard. Survivors include her mother; two brothers, including Paul Crotty (Col ’85); two nephews; and a niece.