Nearly 200 colleagues, friends and family members paid tribute to Lynn Wilcoxon, a 27-year employee of UCSB’s Graduate Division, at a memorial service Thursday, Nov. 3, at Corwin Pavilion. Wilcoxon, the division’s Director of Academic Services, died Oct. 5 after a long battle with cancer.
Speakers included Dr. John Hajda, UCSB professor of music; Lynn’s sister Barbara; Graduate Division Assistant Dean Christian Villaseñor; and Graduate Division Dean Dr. Gale Morrison.
At the service, Hajda announced establishment of the Lynn Wilcoxon Memorial Graduate Fellowship Fund, which will support graduate fellowships for single mothers.
“Lynn would be thrilled a fellowship for single mothers was being named in her honor,” sister Barbara told the gathering.
Barbara recounted Lynn’s love of singing, telling the story of how as a child, Lynn sang “Beautiful Dreamer” at the top of her lungs at home. The whole neighborhood could hear her, Barbara said.
The family often vacationed at Sardine Lake in the Sierras, where Lynn and Barbara enjoyed fishing. One day, Barbara said, the two sisters caught the limit of fish (10) in one hour. Back at the dock, the men were shocked and amazed at the young girls’ catch.
According to her sister, fishing was such a passionate pastime for Lynn that two days before her passing, she expressed a wish to go fishing for one last trout.
Wilcoxon, who earned her B.A. in History from UCSB in 1973, began working at UC Santa Barbara’s Graduate Division in 1984. “Working life was a joy” for Wilcoxon, her sister said. “She loved working with the students.”
Graduate Division Assistant Dean Christian Villaseñor speaks at the service.Wilcoxon had three children, Lauren, Brian and Eric. “She believed strongly in education,” her sister Barbara said. “Her children are a reflection of that.”
A touching photo slide show of Wilcoxon throughout the years was presented at the service, with musical accompaniment from friend and former colleague Mark Patterson.
During the memorial service, friends, family members and colleagues used many words to describe Wilcoxon: gentle, compassionate, strong, tireless, dedicated, religious, committed, protective, caring, disciplined. Even “well dressed.”
Dean Morrison summed it up by stating, “The right words for her are heart and soul.”
To donate to the Lynn Wilcoxon Memorial Graduate Fellowship Fund, which will support graduate student fellowships for single mothers, mail a check (made out to UC Regents with “Lynn Wilcoxon Fund” in the memo area) to Christian Villaseñor, Assistant Dean, Graduate Division, University of California, Santa Barbara, 3117 Cheadle Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2070.
