Loyola University faculty member of almost 30 years, Mary Brazier, died at her home in New Orleans July 16, 2016, at the age of 60, after a battle with amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the New Orleans Advocate reported.
Brazier is survived by her husband of 16 years, Kurt Patrick Ziegeler of New Orleans, her brother Robert Whiting Brazier, Jr., of Slidell, La., and a number of relatives and friends. According to The Advocate, she was predeceased by her parents Margaret Long McWaters and Robert Whiting Brazier.
Born Feb. 4, 1956, Brazier attended Loyola then earned a doctorate in experimental psychology from Tulane University in 1986 and began working at Loyola that same year, the Advocate said. During her time at Loyola, Brazier served as chair of the psychology department from 1994 to 2004 and 2009 through last academic year.
She was associate dean of the department 1997-98 and as a psychology department professor.
“I know teaching kept her going, and I am glad I was able to learn from her,” chemistry senior Rachel Dufour said.
Kim Ernst, associate professor of psychology, remembered her friend Brazier fondly in an interview with The Maroon. Brazier hired Ernst 20 years ago amid a competitive pool of applicants, and Ernst said she knew Brazier believed in her.
“She could have passed me up,” Ernst said, as she had just earned her doctorate at the time. But Brazier didn’t pass her up. Instead, Brazier told Earnst that she belonged at Loyola.
Ernst credited Brazier with hiring most of the current psychology faculty, which will shape her legacy at the university. She said Brazier was always willing to help students and approved programs that would benefit them.
Ernst said Brazier worked closely with the team that directed the Monroe Hall renovation, ensuring that a vivarium for rat testing was installed on the third floor.
She never got to see the completed project, where she and Ernst were to teach together, but students will still benefit from the Brazier’s work on the vivarium, which the department continues to prepare for classes.
Brazier’s family requested contributions be made to the ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter, according to The New Orleans Advocate.