Tracey SCHWARZE

HAMPTON - Dr. Tracey Teets Schwarze, died Aug. 1, 2010.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Tracey Teets Schwarze, 48, Professor of English and Vice Provost of Christopher Newport University, of Hampton, Va., will be held at CNU's Ferguson Center for the Arts at 1 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2010.
Prior to entering academia, Dr. Schwarze worked in public affairs for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, covering assignments in the states and abroad, until academia became her passion.
A native of Norfolk, Tracey graduated from Maury High School. She was an Echols Scholar and a member of the Cavalier Daily staff, and earned her B.A. in English from the University of Virginia. She received her M.A. in English from the University of Dayton, and her Ph.D. in English at the University of California, Riverside. She taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of Arizona at Phoenix, and Auburn University, before becoming an Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor at CNU.
In a brief 11 years of service to CNU, she had become chair of the English Department, president of the faculty senate, recipient of the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award for 2007/08, and one of the most respected voices on the entire faculty. She was a rare and precious currency, a rigorous and provocative teacher, a generous and fair colleague, a determined and focused administrator, who was impressive and awe inspiring.
Everything was an adventure to Tracey. She was an incredibly curious and voracious traveler whose escapades included hiking and Yoga in Costa Rica, diving in Belize, creating cherished memories with her mother in England, France, and New York, and most recently with beloved fiancE, Steve, bison watching in Yosemite.
Tracey is survived by her mother, Encie Rhodes Teets; her fiancE, Stephen P. Coenen; aunts, uncles and cousins.
Preceding her in death are her father, Kenneth W. Teets; and her infant brother, Jeffery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to CNU Endowment Association. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.