In Memoriam: Donna Verschueren, academic counselor for CEPS

Donna (Thomas) Verschueren, academic counselor for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, died peacefully Oct. 18 of pancreatic cancer. She was 58. She worked tirelessly on behalf of students and in her short time at UNH she definitely left her mark on the campus community. She is remembered by her co-workers as a caring person with a great sense of humor — including what she called her “unhelpful asides” — and a poor aim with a squirt gun.

Donna was born on July 8, 1947, and was raised in Whitney Point, NY. She received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta and her master’s degree from Antioch University. She served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines and worked in many fields including teaching, accounting and college administration. She was a member of South Church in Portsmouth and sang in Voices of the Heart, an all-women’s choir. Donna was a student of life, constantly expanding her wealth of ideas and interests. She was passionate about the arts, the outdoors, and international travel and experience, taking every opportunity to reach out to the international community.

She is survived by her husband, James, of Dover; her son Ben and his wife Kerry; her son Paul and his fiancée Lindsay; her parents Walter and Dorothy Thomas; her brother David and his wife Nadia, many nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends. She was predeceased by her brother Dean.

A memorial service was held Oct. 23 at South Church in Portsmouth. Contributions in Donna’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, South Church in Portsmouth, or National Public Radio.