In Memoriam

PETER R. GIRARDOT, 78, Sept. 2, in Arlington. Born in Detroit, Mich., Dr. Girardot taught at UTA for 35 years and was a professor emeritus of chemistry. He served as dean of the College of Science from 1966 to 1973 and was a nationally recognized researcher in inorganic chemistry. He won several teaching awards, including the Outstanding Educator of America Award and the Amoco Teaching Award, and was instrumental in establishing UTA's program in environmental science and engineering. Dr. Girardot earned his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan and during World War II served at the Manhattan Project, researching nuclear technology.

FRANKIE STEWART HANSELL, 85, Oct. 9, in Arlington. Ms. Hansell, who earned an associate's degree in nutrition from North Texas Agricultural College (now UTA) in 1934, received the University's Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1991. Committed to service to UTA, support of students and leadership on campus, she established the Frankie Stewart Hansell Alumni Association Endowment in 1987. She began her career as a teacher in Texas but later worked as a nutritionist throughout the world, including almost 20 years with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Her first FAO post was in rural India, and she later served as a regional nutritional officer for Asia and the Far East, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. After her retirement in 1981, she returned to Arlington where she became deeply involved with her alma mater. Her United Nations papers are part of UTA Special Collections.

JERROLD MIERTSCHIN, 39, Oct. 21, in Dallas. Mr. Miertschin graduated from UTA in 1982 with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance. He was a member of Alpha Chi honor society and the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. He earned his juris doctor and master of business arts degrees from Southern Methodist University and was an attorney practicing in Dallas. He was a member of the Texas Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Zoo Keepers Committee for the Dallas Zoo.

JIRINA PONCAROVA, 56, Aug. 10, in Arlington. Dr. Poncarova earned her master's degree in Spanish from UTA in 1982 and her Ph.D. in humanities from UTA in 1989. She taught Spanish classes at Tarrant County College and UTA.

DAVID WALLER, 39, Aug. 27, in Hawaii. Dr. Waller served on the UTA faculty from 1993 to 2000. He left Arlington to accept an assistant professor of sociology position at the University of Hawaii. One week after classes began in Hilo, he drowned in an accident in the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Waller was born in Miami and earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of California at Riverside.

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