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Granrose 'used every minute of every day'
by Kristin Zagurski
April 26, 2002
The UNO community is mourning the loss of yet another faculty member. Kathleen "Kate" Granrose, 36, an assistant professor of Spanish and women's studies, died April 19.
Karen Falconer Al-Hindi, director of women's studies at UNO, said her death resulted from a "terrible adverse drug reaction."
Granrose was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and underwent surgery. Since then, Falconer Al-Hindi said she had been eating right and working out. She even took dance classes with Josie Metal-Corbin, director of UNO's Moving Company and professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
"We have lost a dear friend and colleague," Falconer Al-Hindi said in an e-mail sent to students and faculty members Monday.
UNO faculty members Elvira Garcia, Luisa Howell, Sandra Squires and Marti Rosen-Atherton met with Granrose's students Monday to relay the news of her passing and to "help with feelings," Falconer Al-Hindi said.
She said students spoke with the professors about how tough Granrose was, how much they had learned from her and about her great sense of humor.
One student spoke at her funeral, which was held Tuesday afternoon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
"He was sobbing," Falconer Al-Hindi said.
She said he talked about what a great teacher Granrose was.
"She was good at everything a professor is supposed to be good at," Falconer Al-Hindi said. "Plus, she had such promise as a leader."
Granrose received her bachelor's degree in Spanish from Oberlin College in 1986, her master's in Spanish from the University of Georgia in 1996 and her doctorate in Spanish from the University of Georgia in 2000.
She began teaching at UNO in 2000. Prior to coming to UNO, she taught at the University of Virginia (1996-1999), the University of Georgia (1994-1996) and Oberlin College (1985).
During her time at UNO, she served as an academic adviser and Webmaster for the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. She was also a member of the Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women and the facilitator of a research triangle sponsored by the Department of Graduate Studies.
Granrose was also very involved in the community outside of UNO.
Falconer Al-Hindi said she was amazed at the number of people who did meaningful things with her and at her commitment to her family, friends, students and colleagues.
"She used every minute of every day," Falconer Al-Hindi said.
Her community involvement included translating and interpreting duties at Seymour Elementary School, the United States Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Court and ConAgra Foods.
Falconer Al-Hindi said Granrose was also very involved in her church and reached out to others there, especially women.
She knew Granrose because she wanted to learn Arabic, something Falconer Al-Hindi herself wanted to do because her husband speaks the language. The women would meet to study Arabic together.
"She had such a keen interest in learning and with sharing with people," Falconer Al-Hindi said.
Granrose is survived by her husband, Christopher Thorne; sons, Xavier, 14, and Daniel Rodriguez-Granrose, 12, all of Omaha; father, John Granrose of Zurich, Switzerland; mother, Cherlyn Granrose; sister, Karen Friend, both of Atlanta; brother, Jonathan Granrose of Mountain View, Calif.; and grandparents, Margaret and Lawrence Skromme of Lancaster, Pa.
An educational fund has been set up for Xavier and Daniel. Memorial gifts should be made payable to the Xavier and Daniel Education Fund and mailed to Chris Thorne, 8154 Hascall St., Omaha, NE 68124.
"During her brief time at UNO, Kate had already made Women's Studies a focus of her time and talents," Falconer Al-Hindi said in an e-mail. "We will miss her deeply."
Published in The Gateway, The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Student Newspaper
http://www.unogateway.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/04/26/3cc8e88d8c00c?in_archive=1
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