UTB/TSC Remembers Nicky Loff
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College has lost a longtime former employee and a good friend.
Myna "Nicky" Loff, died at the age of 85 on Sunday, November 13, 2005. Her son, Jack is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and a former volleyball coach at UTB/TSC.
Mrs. Loff or Nicky as she was known taught journalism and sponsored the college newspaper, The Collegian at Texas Southmost College. She later became Director of Counseling. She was most proud of the scholarships that she negotiated for students transferring to major universities.
"She was a wonderful person and always had a smile," said Dr. Zelma D. Mata, Chair and Associate Professor of Kinesiology. " She loved the college and it held a special place in her heart. She will be missed."
Mata says Mrs. Loff attended the volleyball games faithfully when her son Jack was Coach and even after he wasn't coaching, she says she would still come to the games.
"She was a huge supporter of Team Sting," said Mata.
Mrs. Loff retired in 1978 but continued to stay involved in the college. She served for 11 years on the TSC Board of Trustees policy committee and the student affairs committee. Following the partnership with The University of Texas at Brownsville, she continued to serve on the student affairs committee, and a task force that would develop recommendations on the future of athletics at the university. She also served on the board of directors for the very first UTB/TSC Alumni Association.
She was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on May 12, 1920, to Lawrence J. and Cecelia (Addison) Nickum. She grew up in Manning, Iowa, and attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, where she met and married John E. (Coach Jack) Loff.
Following World War II in which her husband saw action, they moved to Brownsville. He took a high school coaching position and she worked as a secretary for Hargis Electric Construction Corp.
She earned a bachelor's degree in English and Journalism from Pan American College in Edinburg (now UT Pan American) and a master's degree in Psychology and Counseling from Texas A & I University in Kingsville.
Before joining the college, she taught English at Central Junior High and Brownsville High School and enjoyed her work with students so much that she considered it a calling.
Mrs. Loff is survived by her three sons, Jack (Jayne), Danny (Suzanne) of Brownsville and Gary (Nydia) of Nicaragua and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday, November 15 from 5-8 p.m. at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home located at 945 Palm Blvd. in Brownsville.
A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 901 Boca Chica Blvd., on Wednesday, November 16 at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens.
The family asks in lieu of flowers to plant a tree in her honor.
MYNA NICKY LOFF
Myna Nicky Loff, age 85, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005.
Nicky Loff was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on May 12, 1920, to Lawrence J. and Cecelia (Addison) Nickum. When she was just two months old, the family moved to Manning, Iowa, where she grew up. She attended Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, met and married John E. (Coach Jack) Loff. After World War II in which Mr. Loff saw action, they moved to Brownsville where Mr. Loff took a high school coaching position and Nicky worked as a secretary for Hargis Electric Construction Corp. She later received a B.A. in English and Journalism from Pan American College in Edinburg, and still later an M.S. in Psychology/Counseling from what was then Texas A&I University in Kingsville. She drove 17,500 miles to attend classes leading to the degree.
She taught English at both Central Junior High and Brownsville High School and enjoyed her work with students so much that she deemed it a calling. Then at Texas Southmost College she taught journalism, Personality Adjustment (Psych.) and sponsored the college newspaper, The Collegian. She later became Director of Counseling. She was most proud of the scholarships that she negotiated for students transferring to major universities.
After retiring, she served for 11 years on the TSC Board of Trustees policy committee and the student affairs committee. After the partnership with the University of Texas was formed, she continued to serve on the student affairs committee, and then on the ad hoc task force to develop recommendations to the Board of Trustees outlining the steps that UTB-TSC athletics should take in the future. Her last service to TSC was as a director on the first Alumni Association Board.
For years she was a member of Sombrero Festival, Ltd. writing most of the publicity in the early years, chairing the costume contest, the information booth, and volunteering to work where needed.
She loved the Triune God and His Word and was a serious Bible Scholar. She taught Sunday School and Adult Bible Class for many years at Trinity Lutheran Church and was responsible for establishing the Center for Christian Child Care and Development.
Nicky was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse Coach Loff, a grandson Kerry Wayne Loff, and second husband George Stahl.
Her surviving family includes three sons, Jack and Danny Loff, their wives, Jayne and Suzanne and children, all of Brownsville, her son Gary Loff of Nicaragua, his wife Nydia and son Garito. The Brownsville grandchildren are Debbie, Kristy, Keli, Christopher, Kirk and Erika Loff, and Samantha Garcia.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Tuesday,
Nov. 15, 2005 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.
A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church tomorrow, Wednesday
at 2 p.m. with Rev. Steve Morfitt officiating.
Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Wesley Reed, Pat Hearn, Al Gomez, Ronnie Zamora, Marshall
Ray and Lonnie Robinson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Gauvreau, Joe Lee Rubio,
Joe Cadriel, Marcello Gutierrez and Fred Sommerfield.
In lieu of flowers, in remembrance of Nicky Loff, plant a tree any place of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funereal Home, 945 Palm
Blvd., Brownsville, TX