In Memoriam

Jessica Dingeman Myrabo Thomas
Class of '70

Jessica Mary Dingeman Myrabo Thomas, a member of the SJC Class of 1970, died Feb. 4, 2010 of cancer. Born July 2, 1948 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to David and Josephine Dingeman, she was the eldest of three siblings in an Army family. Jessica traveled worldwide as a child and lived in Hawaii, Japan, Germany and many homes throughout the United States.

A lifelong avid reader, she excelled at academics and was a National Merit Scholar upon high school graduation. Jessica received a scholarship to the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1970. She married Kenneth Myrabo, and in 1973 gave birth to her life's legacy, daughter Alison. After completing seven years active duty as a U.S. Army nurse, she continued to serve in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1987.

Jessica's vocation was in nursing involving direct patient care, administration and teaching. She was director of women's services at a large hospital in the Pacific Northwest and ended her career as professor of nursing at Seattle University. She was a natural teacher and always believed that students should not only learn facts, but demanded that they engage in critical thinking to address problems. She married Jim Thomas in 1993 and they retired to Surprise, AZ, in 2004, after a four-year RV adventure that brought them to all corners of the nation.

An avid enthusiast of the outdoors, Jessica loved sailing, hiking and exploring the wonders of nature. Everyone in contact with Jessica learned much from her and her passions of honesty, candor, and a deep respect for our planet and its resources. She would admonish her students to "remember to recycle, and don't forget to use sunscreen."

Jessica is survived by her husband Jim; daughter Alison; mother Josephine; sister Robbie; brother David; stepchildren, Jimmy, Kathi and Mary; and grandchildren, Kieran, Alana, Harper, Riley and Tyler.

A memorial service was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Surprise, AZ. The family suggested donations in Jessica's name to Unitarian Universalist Church of Surprise; Hospice of the Valley, or the American Cancer Society .

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