Diana Reid Nemergut, Phd
December 31, 2015
Durham, NC- Dr Diana Reid Nemergut died December 31, 2015 after an eleven month battle with a brain tumor under the care of her husband, Dr Alan Townsend and hospice.
Diana was born in Watertown on June 26, 1974, the daughter of William F. and Susan E. Nemergut. From an early age, Diana was always on the move and ahead of her time. She attended the Carthage Central School district, but left prior to her senior year to attend the Clarkson School. Rather than returning to Carthage to complete a few high school courses (and earning her high school diploma) after her freshman year of college, she elected to attain her GED – Carthage did award her an honorary diploma after she attained her Ph.D. From Clarkson, her thirst for knowledge and scientific exploration led her to New Orleans. Here, she earned her B.S. in Biology in 1997 from the University of New Orleans, participating in Americorps along the way. Her Americorp experience shaped her desire to help those less fortunate, something that stuck with her for the rest of her life. After graduation from UNO, she worked at Tulane as a research assistant. In 2000, Diana moved to Boulder, CO to attend the University of Colorado and earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology in May 2004. It was in Boulder that Diana met the love of her life, Alan Townsend. They embarked on many grand adventures together, traveling the world, marrying and eventually bringing Neva Townsend into the world in June 2009. After completing postdoc work at Rutgers University in NJ, Diana returned to the University of Colorado and was an associate professor with the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research until June 2014. During this time, she also completed a stint at the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC, which led her to an assignment in Antarctica. Her most recent position was at Duke University – where she was working on setting up further study in Antarctica through a major grant that she had attained for the University. Her research in the field of microbiology is documented by numerous publications.
Above all, Diana loved her family and friends and she would do anything for them. After her own daughter was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor in the fall of 2013, Diana reached out to other families whose children had been diagnosed with similar tumors. She traveled to Germany to present at a conference on her daughter’s tumor, not so much because she had new information to offer, but so that she could learn as much as possible to help her child.
Diana was truly a world traveler. She has presented at conferences all over the world and done research in Mexico, Costa Rica and Antarctica, to name a few places. She has also competed in marathons and races all over the world, most notably the Boston Marathon on April 2004. Her most recent race was run in September 2015 – after enduring brain surgery, radiation and chemotherapy – and she won the race for her age group.
Diana is survived by her husband, Alan, her daughter, Neva, Durham, her stepchildren, Kaelan and Lily Woodward, Boston; her parents, William and Susan, Wellsley Island/Cape Vincent, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Burke and Karen Townsend, Missoula; her sister, Elene and niece, Sophia, Cape Vincent; her brother, George, Endwell; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends all of the world.
Diana was laid to rest in Greene Mountain Cemetery on January 8, 2016, at the base of the mountains in Boulder, CO that she held so dear. Her spirit is truly watching over all of her loved ones and her brilliant smile and loving personality lives on in her daughter.
A celebration of Diana’s life will be held at 11am Saturday April 30, 2016 at Holy Family Church in Watertown, NY with Father Steven Murray officiating. Please plan on joining the family following the mass at Art’s Jug in Watertown to further remember Diana.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you do something to help someone less fortunate, in the way Diana would have – either through your time, talent or money. Also, an endowment for the Nemergut Scholarship fund has been set up at the Nicholas School at Duke University to honor Diana and her lifelong commitment to science.
Arrnagements are with the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home, Watertown.
Online condolences may be made at www.reedbenoit.com.
Read More
