Director of public relations at UD dies

Mary Hempel

8:40 p.m., Sept. 30, 2005--Mary J. Hempel, assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Relations at the University, died Sept. 30. She was 58.

The daughter of the late John E. and Maxine M. Hempel, she was born Dec. 16, 1946, in Clinton, Iowa, where she graduated from Mount St. Clare Academy. She received an associate of arts degree from Mount St. Clare Junior College and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia. In graduate school, she participated in the Washington, D.C., Graduate Reporting Program, serving as Washington correspondent for several newspapers.

Ms. Hempel joined the University of Delaware staff in 1971 as an associate news editor, becoming news editor in 1972. She was appointed director of the then-Office of Information Services in 1979. In 1997, she was named assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Relations.

At the time of the appointment, UD President David P. Roselle said her new title and duties "formalize a valuable working relationship that we have had over the last several years, and I am pleased to be able to recognize by way of this appointment her responsibilities in the Office of the President, as well as her management of the overall public relations activities of this institution."

Under her leadership, the Office of Public Relations grew from a small news bureau to a multifaceted public relations unit that produces several publications, including The Messenger and the University's online news site, UDaily, and also handles media relations, photography, advertising and marketing, as well as the University mascot—YoUDee. Under her guidance, the office has received numerous awards for excellence.

A member of numerous University committees, Ms. Hempel was a dynamic contributor to many areas of the University and a valued adviser to many on the campus.

In 2002, she received the Downtown Newark Partnership's first Outstanding Volunteer Award for an individual from the University.

She also was an active volunteer with Delaware Hospice and the local chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, among other charities.

Ms. Hempel is survived by her brother, John E. Hempel Jr., and his wife, Margaret Burton Hempel, of Tuczon, Ariz.; sisters Barbara A. Hempel of Newark; Diane L. McGrellis, and her husband, Joseph F. McGrellis, of Hockessin; and Margaret A. Hornberger, and her husband, Douglas G. Hornberger, of North East, Md. She also is survived by four nephews--John E. Hempel III and his wife, Jill, of Spokane, Wash.; Joshua B. Hempel of Stateline, Nev.; Matthew G. Roath, of Hockessin; and Kevin B. Hornberger of College Park, Md.; four nieces--Jessica B. Hempel of Chicago; Alison Roath March and her husband, Robert J. March III; Erica Roath Jourdan, and her husband, Brock Jourdan, of Bel Air, Md.; and Jennifer M. Hornberger of Northeast Md., and two grand-nephews, Adam Pearson Hornberger of College Park, Md., and Robert J. March IV of Bel Air, Md., and one grand-niece, Lilly Hempel of Spokane, Wash.

A requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin. A memorial service on the University campus is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmimgton, DE 19810.

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