Dee Duggan remembered

Longtime SCC employee Dee Duggan died on April 9 at The University of Miami Hospital in Miami, FL.

She was born in New York City and grew up in the upper Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights.

At the age of 19, she studied at the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus Convent, planning to join the religious order. Her life took a different direction and she married and had four children. In 1978, she relocated to Scottsdale.

In 1981, Duggan began working at Scottsdale Community College as an advocate for students with disabilities. She was with SCC for nearly 24 years as coordinator of Disability Resources and as diversity coordinator. She developed relationships for SCC with the Chrysalis Shelter and the Mayor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

Many of her campus friends have written in to the paper to express their thoughts:

"Dee was a champion for others; she spent her life giving of herself and fighting for those around her who needed help. Her impact on students, employees, and those in the community is legendary and extends well beyond her length of service. It is important that we take time to recognize and acknowledge a life that was well lived but cut too short." -Dr. Bonnie Gray

"The thing I'll always remember about Dee is her smile. She was always positive and happy to see you, always with a smile. I'm sitting here just thinking and writing about her and then I realize...there is a smile on my face." - Terry McGowan

"Dee Duggan was an inspiration to everyone she came into contact with. I was sad to see her leave our SCC family, and even sadder when I heard she passed! I will always think of Dee with fondness." -Dawn McLain

"Dee listened and looked deeply into many students' lives. She saw more than we as instructors ever saw in the classroom, and helped us as instructors see more too. I know past students, now adults in successful careers, who would never have gotten there, had it not been for Dee. There is really no need for fancy tributes. Those students' lives continue to give tribute to her actions at SCC!" - Rosanne Dlugosz

"To Dee and family with love and fond memories." - Michael Seery