Email from President Brodhead Regarding the Death of Mary Semans

Dear Members of the Duke Community, I write to report that Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans died today at the age of 91. Mary Semans occupied a unique place in the life of this university. Granddaughter of Benjamin Duke and great-granddaughter of Washington Duke, for whom the university was named, she was our principal link to Duke's founding generation, and she continued her family's tradition of benevolence throughout her life. A longtime trustee and our lifelong Durham neighbor, she supported every good thing that has happened at this university, including the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Duke Medicine, the Nasher Museum, and much else. She gave enlightened support to higher education, health care, children, and the Methodist Church throughout the Carolinas as a leader of James B. Duke's other philanthropic creation, The Duke Endowment of Charlotte. She and her late husband were driving forces behind the creation of the North Carolina School of the Arts. With her lifelong commitment to active citizenship and civil rights, she also helped shape the community of Durham, even serving a term as mayor pro tem.  The list could go on and on, but as everyone who met her knows, Mary Semans was more than the sum of her accomplishments. She had a care for others and a belief in human possibility that made every encounter an inspiring event. All who experienced her grace, warmth, enthusiasm and can-do spirit will remember her for years to come. Duke mourns the passing of one of its greatest friends. A commemoration of Mary Semans' life and details about the funeral will be available on the DukeToday website.Sincerely,Richard H. Brodhead President