The TCU flag will be at half-staff Tuesday in memory of associate professor of graphic design Pat Sloan, who passed away Sunday evening after battling lung cancer.
Professor and Coordinator of Graphic Design Lewis Glaser, who knew Sloan for years through the graphic design program, said she was a tremendous teacher who students loved.
“She was very positive and never had a bad thing to say, at least without offering some constructive feedback and reason for saying it,” Glaser said.
According to Sloan’s personal biography on her design website, she founded Pat Sloan Design, which was recognized for its creative and innovative approaches to visual communications and had extensive background in both print and interactive media.
Glaser said Sloan started working at the university part time and as a visiting designer in the graphic design program. She was asked to join the staff at the last minute several years ago after a professor decided to not return.
“She said, “Yes I’d be glad to, anything you need.’ That was the way she always was,” Glaser said.
Sloan never said no to any of the many favors the graphic design program had asked of her over the years, Glaser said. He said she was a great practitioner as well as teacher and received every level of professional acknowledgement available, from local to international, for her work.
“She was never one to settle; she really pushed herself,” Glaser said.
According Glaser, Sloan was recognized in Communication Arts Magazine and Graphis, and she was a member of New York Type Directors Club. She also served as senior art director for Pier 1 Imports.
Glaser said she brought her professional knowledge into the classroom and that she was an outstanding designer. He said she just had the right temperament to help people. She kept working not because she needed money or felt pressure, he said, but because she enjoyed teaching and loved helping people.
Sloan taught fewer classes this semester and stopped teaching about two weeks ago, Glaser said.
Pat Sloan’s husband, David Sloan, said she was full of life and was a very creative, imaginative person who was serious about her teaching. He said the private ceremony will not be a ceremony focusing on her death.
“We are going to have a celebration of life because that’s what she would want,” David Sloan said.
Glaser said there will be an obituary in Tuesday’s Star-Telegram. A more public service will be held in the future, but no formal plans have been made yet.
Glaser said the graphic design program was asking anyone who knew Sloan or would like to post a comment or picture to visit the program’s Facebook page or e-mail them to Lewis Glaser at [email protected].