A message from Thad Molling, associate director, Departmental Support:
I’m deeply saddened to share that one of our own, Ellen La Luzerne, died last Friday from cancer at the age of 66.
Many of you will know Ellen from working with her as part of our Desktop Support team in Departmental Support, where she had an outsized impact both as a support technician and as a colleague. Ellen enjoyed working with everyone at DoIT in the 5 years she spent with us, and she approached her work here in the same earnest and tireless way she worked for anyone who needed her help.
When Ellen came to work at DoIT, it was a continuation of her life’s work: supporting the needs of those who helped other people.
A Badger 2 times over, Ellen earned her bachelor’s in communication arts in 1982 and her master’s in industrial relations in 1987 from UW–Madison. After earning her master’s, Ellen became a labor organizer, working with two Service Employees International Union (SEIU) chapters before joining the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC). She went on to spend 22 years at WEAC, tirelessly and fiercely advocating for educators and staff in Wisconsin public schools.
You may also have encountered Ellen through her work at WORT-FM community-supported radio in Madison. She volunteered as a producer, editor and reporter there for nearly 28 years, most recently with the Labor Radio program.
When she retired from WEAC, Ellen returned to school to earn her associate’s degree in IT systems administration from Madison College, kick-starting her second career in technical support. She worked at Veridian Homes for 4 years before joining us at UW–Madison in 2017.
You can read Ellen’s full obituary on the Cress Funeral Services website. Her family is holding a private funeral service but plans to have a wider gathering later. If you wish to make a memorial donation, the family asks that you donate to the Goodman Community Center instead of sending flowers.
We know this news is hard to hear, especially for those who knew Ellen well. We encourage you to lean on your colleagues as we grapple with this loss. If you need additional support, UW’s Employee Assistance Office has trained professionals who can help at no cost. You can schedule a confidential appointment by calling 608-263-2987 or emailing eao@mailplus.wisc.edu.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Ellen’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time.
—Thad Molling, associate director, Departmental Support