Update: 8/25/19
A scholarship fund in Cathy Coomer’s memory has been established at the RSU Foundation. Donations to the scholarship fund are tax deductible, and checks payable to the RSU Foundation may be mailed to:
Cathy Coomer Scholarship Fund
c/o RSU Foundation
1701 W. Will Rogers Boulevard
Claremore, OK 74017
Please place Cathy Coomer Scholarship Fund in the check’s subject line. For other payment options or more information about supporting the scholarship fund, contact the RSU Foundation office at 918-343-8357.
University officials have learned Cathy Coomer, RSU Assistant Professor of Communications, passed away in her home on Tuesday following a recent illness. Information about funeral services will be shared when it becomes available.
Cathy joined the RSU faculty in 2004 with a dual appointment as a faculty member and as General Manager for RSU Radio, the student-run campus station. Whether in her role as a teacher or a communications professional, Cathy was a passionate advocate for her students and devoted herself tirelessly to making sure they were prepared with real-world experience. She held leadership roles in the Oklahoma Broadcasting Education Association and its annual student awards competition, where her students consistently earned statewide awards while competing head-to-head with students from larger programs.
Her colleagues noted that her legacy will be clearly visible through the countless RSU students who left her classroom and developed successful careers in radio, television, or other related fields.
In addition to her official university roles, Cathy was an avid promoter of the university. She volunteered her time and energy to make sure the general public knew the impact RSU had on the lives of our students and the communities we serve.
Cathy came to RSU after a distinguished broadcast career, including more than a decade as a news producer, reporter and promotions manager with television stations in Springfield, Missouri and Pittsburg, Kansas. She taught communications and served as Director of Broadcasting for Pittsburg State University from 1996 to 2003.
Our hearts go out to her family and friends, as well as to all at RSU who knew her as a teacher, a colleague and a friend.
Any students who feel they may need grief counseling are encouraged to call Nikki Phillip, RSU coordinator of counseling services, at 918-343-7845 or visit their offices on the first floor of the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center.