University Times

Margaret Mary "Peg" Corbett, secretary in the Department of Library and Information Science, died suddenly Sept. 14, 1997, while on vacation in Nags Head, N.C.

Corbett, 54, had served as secretary to the department chairperson and to the doctoral program since 1990. Except for a stint at Honeywell, Inc. from 1981 to 1986, Corbett spent her career as a secretary at Pitt. She began as an administrative secretary at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (1964-1973) and also worked in the psychology department (1973-78), the engineering school (1978-1981), the Office of Research (1987-89) and the Graduate School of Public Health (1989-1990) before joining the School of Information Sciences.

"To the faculty and staff who worked with her, she was the consummate professional: reliable, hard-working and totally discreet," said Edie Rasmussen, chairperson of the library and information science department, in a eulogy at Corbett's funeral.

Rasmussen called Corbett "a magician" who could negotiate the University bureaucracy with "style and charm.

"She was our miracle worker," Rasmussen continued. "She got things done, even when we all agreed it was impossible. I remember her on the telephone, convincing the movers to come on a certain day, charming this or that official to bend this regulation or extend that deadline. With Peg in charge, things happened, and like true sleight of hand, it all appeared easy, even when there was dedication and hard work behind it." School of Information Sciences graduates from around the world sent messages of condolence upon hearing of her death, Rasmussen said. "Peg reassured them [students] when they had doubts, calmed them when they were nervous, and celebrated with them when they were successful. The first act of many of our doctoral students on successfully defending their dissertation was to rush down to Peg's office to share their triumph with her." Corbett grew up in Oakland and attended Point Park and Robert Morris colleges. She is survived by parents Thomas J. and Margaret Madigan Corbett; sisters Julia Smith, Mary Post and Sally Douglas; nephew Thomas John Post and niece Margaret Ann Post.

Memorial contributions, payable to the University of Pittsburgh, may be sent to the Department of Library and Information Science, which has established a student award in her name.