In Memoriam
Nancy H. Sitterson, 91, of Kinston, N.C., died on November 29, 2010, at Carol Woods Retirement Community in Chapel Hill. Nancy was the wife of the late J. Carlyle Sitterson, Professor of History and then Chancellor, who passed away in 1995 and for whom Sitterson Hall was named. Nancy received a master’s degree at UNC from the School of Social Work. She was a member of the first Public Library board, organizer for Meals on Wheels, member of Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church, and co-founder of the Carol Woods rose garden.
Nancy Weiss Stegman (M.S. 1976) of Chapel Hill, N.C., passed away December 19, 2010, at the age of 69. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and received bachelor‘s degrees in English and Human Ecology from Cornell University. In 1965, she and her husband, Michael, moved to Chapel Hill where he accepted a faculty position at UNC. Nancy earned a master’s degree in Computer Science in 1976, where she was advised by Dr. Stephen Weiss. At that time, she was one of the few women to hold such a degree. She went on to work in computer technology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C., as a contractor and career employee. She retired in 2008 after a fulfilling career spanning two decades.
Sharon W. Surles, 41, died September 13, 2010, after a rapid progression of breast cancer. She was born in Saxapahaw, N.C., and graduated from San Diego State University. She worked in the MSL in the Department of Computer Science at UNC from 1986-1992, and later worked at Qualcomm. She is survived by her best friend and husband of 22 years, Mark Surles (Ph.D. 1992), of Fredericksburg, Va. Sharon was an active member of Torrey Pines Christian Church in La Jolla, Calif., where she was an Elder and leader of small groups. She maintained a positive outlook throughout her four-year battle with cancer.
John Burton Zimmerman (Ph.D. 1985) died February 9, 2011, in Sacramento, Calif., after a brief illness. He grew up in Sweetwater, Tenn. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and studied Astrophysics at the University of Illinois. After reevaluating his career path, he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in computer science from UNC, where he was advised by Dr. Stephen Pizer. John went on to accept professorship positions at Washington University and Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. He also worked at Sun Microsystems for 14 years. At the time of his death, he held a professorship at the University of California, at Davis Medical Center, in Sacramento. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Rosalie Haggi.