Obituaries

Rosemary Mecca, a retired international scholar adviser in the Office of International Education, died Oct. 23. She was 69.

A native of Buffalo, Mecca joined the UB professional staff in 1967 as an assistant manager in the Student Union, located at the time in Squire Hall on the South Campus. She joined the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) in July 1989 as an international scholar adviser and remained in the position until her retirement in 2002.

Ellen Dussourd, director of ISSS, says Mecca was committed to the visiting scholars with whom she worked, keeping meticulous records to ensure their immigration documents were up to date and that they maintained their immigration status.

Mecca was active in the Professional Staff Senate, serving as a member of the Executive Committee, chair of the Finance Committee, co-chair of the Social Committee, a mentor and a member of the Outstanding Service Committee.

She also was president of the Campus Club, which served as a meeting place for UB faculty and staff from 1953 into the late-1970s. It was the precursor to the present-day University Club.

Mecca was an avid Bills, Sabres and Yankees fan, and took part in volunteer work off campus, including ushering at a number of venues in Buffalo.

She also was devoted to her aunt, Dussourd says, visiting her each day and assuming a lot of responsibility for her, including selling her house and placing her in a nursing home.

“Rosemary was a spunky lady whose energy and involvement benefited a lot of people at UB and in the Buffalo community,” Dussourd says.