LouAnn A Gerken

I have sweet cousin memories when we played together each summer on our family vacation to Rochester. I recall going into the attic as our play area. She was always so friendly and sharing her toys and dolls and being best friends even if we visited her family just 1 day every summer. As we grew older, summers changed into fondest memories. It´s amazing reading her biography of creating her life´s experiences of love for children and animals, through her travels, academic accomplishments, home building and embracing her love for life. Truly a grand woman, cousin and friend. Mike, we will always miss her

LouAnn was a dear friend of mine in Taos, and was the one who nurtured me after the sudden death of my husband at 57. I hiked, danced, laughed and cried with her and I was so glad to see her last year when we were both back in Taos. Her smile says it all...she loved life and all she shared it with.

LouAnn was a person with a welcoming personality who was immediately likable. She took a genuine interest in her friends, colleagues, and students. She was quick to share what she had and what she knew. People were always happy to see her and she was delighted to see them. Few people are as gifted as she was at making friends. Although older than her, I learned a lot about caring for others from her. I was lucky to know her.

Remembering LouAnn's generous heart and tremendous energy.

So sorry to hear! We were in the same graduating class and always had a kind word. Condolences to her family!

Dear Mike,
I was so sorry to read of your sister LouAnn´s passing. Your mom was such a good friend of mine for so many years. My children were about the same ages as you & your sister. Your mom loved comparing stories with me about your doings. She was so proud of you both. I´m so glad I got to see you both a few years ago at mom´s burial. Again, my condolences to you & your family.

One of my favorite memories with Aunt Lou was from a visit on 4/2/22. I was lucky enough to be passing through Arizona while trucking and got the chance to spend some one-on-one time with her-a rare and special gift. She gave me a glimpse into her everyday life, proudly showing me where she took Renzo to play ball and socialize with the other dogs. We took a small hiking trip together, which gave us time to talk, laugh, and enjoy the beautiful Arizona scenery. I met a few of her friends, and we swapped stories from the road and in law enforcement. We even watched one of her favorite movies, Smokey and the Bandit, which now holds an even more special place in my heart. That visit was the only time I had her all to myself, and it´s a memory I´ll cherish forever. Aunt Lou was one of a kind-

I met LouAnn a long time ago in Rochester. She showed me the power of developmental psycholinguistic research and her research inspired me ever since.

I first met LouAnn when she came for her job interview at the University of Arizona. With the invaluable help of the Dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, we were able to offer her a joint Appointment in the Departments of Psychology, Linguistics, and Speech & Hearing Sciences, together with participation in the Cognitive Science Program. I realized then how wonderful it would be if she accepted the offer, but not how great her impact on the language development community would be over the next thirty years.

A wonderful person: a sad loss to the subject but also to humanity.

I knew LouAnn as both a lovely human being and a foundational figure in my field of research: language development. I was inspired by her research when I was an undergraduate, and was excited to meet her later on in graduate school and beyond. I also know many of her mentees, who had nothing but wonderful things to say. My deepest condolences for her loss.

Louann led the Cognitive Science Program with distinction. How sad to lose such an accomplished scientist and colleague allotted too few years.

I enjoyed LouAnn 's company and admired her work. She was a steadfast, comforting friend and I miss her very much.

LouAnn was a true and deeply thoughtful Artist-Scientist. I still miss the inspirational, "world troubles solving" conversations we had until wee hours. I still miss the creative ideas, about all aspects of life, that seemed to be "breaking out" of the societal cage seemingly imposed on LouAnn's brilliance. She was my deepest confidant; for so my of my life - my Muse. She could be seriously silly with silliness about seriousness.

LouAnn was a brilliant scientist, an accomplished and inspiring mentor, and a wonderful colleague. Her death comes much, much too soon.