IN MEMORY OF GWENDOLYN V. BLOOMFIELD
It is with the deepest regret that we note the passing of Gwendolyn Bloomfield. Gwen succumbed to cancer on Sunday, May 14, 1995, at Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
At the time of her passing, Gwen had been the secretary of the School of Music for more than thirty-seven years. Gwen was born July 12, 1919, in Waterloo, Iowa. She began her career as a secretary at the University in 1951, working in the Department of Music under the leadership of Myron Russell. In 1956, Gwen resigned to join the staff of Mosier, Mosier, Thomas and Beatty Attorneys law firm; however, she returned to the department March 15, 1963, where she worked faithfully until April 25 of this year.
Gwen was united in marriage to Glenn E. Bloomfield at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. She is survived by a host of friends, including the family of Jim and Reta Miller of Waterloo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn, in 1982 and her aunt, Mabel Lanning, last year.
Gwen was a dedicated professional and colleague--an unequalled asset to the School of Music. Her expertise as a secretary and bookkeeper was unsurpassed and her dedication to her job enviable. Gwen's love and devotion for the School of Music were expressed many times by acts of largess which resulted in acquisition of several large and very necessary items for the School.
Recently Dr. Ronald Ross, the former director of the School, said her generosity was ". . . without prodding or suggestion from anyone. She just saw a need, had the means to address it, and proceeded to solve the problem." Gwen took great pride in being able to help further the mission of the School of Music. That's the way she was. We mourn her passing, but honor her kindness, devotion and love.
Gwen Bloomfield dies at 75
Gwendolyn Bloomfield, secretary of the UNI School of Music for more than thirty-seven years, died this past May 14, 1995, at the Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
Gwen was born on July 12, 1919 in Waterloo, Iowa. She began her career as a secretary at the University in 1951, working in the Department of Music under the leadership of Myron E. Russell. In 1956, Gwen resigned to join the staff of Mosier, Mosier, Thomas and Beatty Law Firm. She returned to the UNI School of Music on March 15, 1963 and worked faithfully until April 25 of this year.
Gwen was married to Glenn Bloomfield at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Glenn preceded her in death in 1982 and her aunt Mabel Lanning died last year. She is survived by a host of friends, including the family of Kim and Reta Miller of Waterloo.
Among her friends and co-workers at Northern Iowa, one wrote to say, "I truly enjoyed my relationship with Gwen over the years. She could be tough, but underneath was a really warm, funny person. Her dedication to job and department was to be admired. She will be missed by many. We could always enjoy a good laugh, and I will miss that bright spot in my day."
Raymond Tymas-Jones, director of the UNI School of Music, wrote, "Gwen was a dedicated professional and colleague--an unequalled asset to the School of Music. Her expertise as a secretary and bookkeeper was unsurpassed, and her dedication to her job was enviable. Gwen's love and devotion for the School of Music were expressed many times by acts of largess which resulted in the acquisition of several large and necessary items for the School."
Ronald Ross, former director of the UNI School of Music, commented that Gwen's generosity was "...without prodding or suggestion from anyone. She just saw a need, had the means to address it, and proceeded to solve the problem."
Gwen's donations to the School of Music were in the tens of thousands of dollars. Her contributions were used to bolster the School of Music budget and purchase stage curtains, auditorium stage lighting boards, chairs for rehearsal rooms, musical instruments and repair, and computers and computer software. She also provided travel expenses anonymously a number of times for faculty travel. As Tymas-Jones concluded in his eulogy, "We mourn her passing, but honor her kindness, devotion and love."