Professor Sally Veregge
By Pat Lopes Harris, Media Relations Director
SJSU lost an outstanding teacher and true believer in mentoring all students, especially young women scientists, when Professor of Biology Sally Ann Veregge lost her battle against cancer Sept. 22. She was 66.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Sept. 26, at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 566 N. Fifth St, San Jose. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the First United Methodist Church of San Jose or the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State.
Donate online or send checks to the Tower Foundation of San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95192-0183. Please note the purpose of the gift: “Department of Biological Sciences, in memory of Professor Veregge.”
Many Contributions
An obituary published by the San Jose Mercury News notes Professor Veregge’s many contributions to the university community:
“Sally thoroughly immersed herself in education and the integration of education within the world … She brought her strong educational background and eclectic working background to the Department of Biological Sciences … in 1984, where she taught a wide variety of courses rose to the rank of professor and chair …
“Quietly innovative as a professor, Sally collaborated with others to create interdisciplinary curricula such as one of the first Professional Science Masters in the country, a master’s in biotechnology, providing students strong internship opportunities in the valley, and working closely with the hospitals and clinics in the area to build and support a Clinical Laboratory Science program.
“Sally was a loved and respected teacher. She treated every student as if he or she was her only student. She spread the ability to learn and the love of learning to thousands of students. She engaged students in her research laboratory as well. Students from high school, undergraduate and graduate students worked collaboratively to tackle the impact of gonadal steroids on the brain including estrogen’s impact on epilepsy.
Encouraging Girls to Study Science
“Sally was also a longstanding organizer and contributor to Expanding Your Horizons which served over 800 young girls every year to encourage them to pursue studies and work in science and engineering. She was a ‘Teacher-Scholar’ at SJSU and was named 2002 ‘Woman of Achievement’ award at the 28th Annual Women’s Fund of Silicon Valley among many academic honors …
“Sally always saw the positives in people and situations. Beyond words, this was often expressed by her trademark smile that she used frequently. We will keep Sally in our hearts and minds by remembering how she enjoyed life and respected and helped others; how she was always strong in spirit and conviction, lived life to the fullest, and cherished her family and friends.”