Miriam Tormollan

Miriam Tormollan, educator, and activist for education of women and girls, died February 8, 2012 in Austin from complications of surgery, at the age of 89.

Miriam was a teacher of advanced placed senior English at Crockett High School for more than 15 years, where she was recognized for her excellence by being selected twice as "Teacher of the Year", having organized Shakespeare festivals, and created her own class in English Culture, a combination of English literature and English history. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and was state legislative chair for four years.

Miriam was an active member of American Association of University Women (AAUW), not only in the Austin Branch, but also at the state level. In 2006, she was selected as Woman of the Year for AAUW Texas. For fifteen years, she served as the central coordinator for state board of AAUW, serving a as a clearing house for information about the state organization and preparing and distributing `the link' to all Texas Branch Officers. She mentored many branch officers, and recruited 3 members into AAUW who eventually became presidents of their local branches.

She represented AAUW in many capacities: working with Austin ISD on several issues, including the creation of a policy on sexual harassment; serving on a committee to create the Texas Women's Coalition; testifying before the Public Education Committee of the Legislature; serving on the Coalition for Public Schools, and Women's Legislative Days Steering Committee. She also assisted in organizing the mentoring program at Webb Junior High, and provided assistance and mentoring in the Special School for Teenage Pregnant Girls. She worked with the Lone Star Girl Scouts as an AAUW representative, helping with registration of girls and collection of materials for the "Expanding Your Horizons" program, designed to expose young girls to non-traditional career choices.

Miriam entered Plan II at the University of Texas at Austin and received a B.A. and M.A. in English from the UT, where she was selected for Phi Beta Kappa.

She was a loving wife and mother, preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Francis Charles Tormollan. Together they made sure that both of their daughters and all three of their granddaughters were financed through college educations. Miriam is survived by her two daughters, Alicia Sparks of Richardson Texas, Anne Price of Round Rock Texas, her three granddaughters Christine Sparks-La Placa, Allyson Price and Kathryn Price, a great-grandson Toren Sparks-La Placa, two nephews Vernon King and George King and a cousin Jackie Nelson.

A Celebration of her life will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 3125 N. Lamar at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 18, at 1:00 pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Miriam Tormollan Fund by check payable to AAUW Austin Branch, P.O. Box 684791, Austin, TX 78768¬4791. The fund will be used to establish a scholarship in her name for young women.