From the NMMATYC Newsletter of Spring 2006
By Mary R. Robinson

President Ellen Schneider asked me to write something for this issue of the NMMATYC News about Vicki Froehlich, who passed away November 28, 2005. I will try to capture some of the specialness that was Vicki in these few words, but those who knew her will know that trying to do that is really impossible because there was no end to her specialness.

I became acquainted with Vicki Froehlich in 1988 over a series of meetings attended by a group of New Mexico two-year college mathematics instructors to discuss the formation of a New Mexico affiliate of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. Vicki was an instructor in T-VI DADE and was an active part of this group interested in improving the quality of mathematics education at two-year colleges in New Mexico by forming a statewide organization for networking and professional development activities. As part of the organizational committee, and the newly chartered organization, Vicki played an important role serving as both treasurer and secretary in successive terms. In those early days, the NMMATYC Treasurer’s added conference duties included collecting the conference registrations, keeping track of membership dues, preparing and labeling the conference bags, creating the name badges and setting up and working the registration desk at the conference. Vicki performed these tasks with solid organization and perfection. In fact, no one ever expected anything less than perfection from Vicki’s efforts, because that’s how her efforts always turned out! In 1992, when NMMATYC hosted the first Southwest Regional Conference, Vicki served as a Co-Chair of the conference, in charge of local arrangements. In this role, she worked closely with the AMATYC Conference Coordinator and Treasurer. Her expertise and ability to organize and get things done right soon became clear to AMATYC leaders, and when the permanent position of AMATYC Program Coordinator was created, Vicki was the person they asked to fill and define the position.

For nine years, Vicki put the AMATYC program together donating many, many hours to organizing a high quality program for the AMATYC Annual Conferences. When she resigned from that position in 2001, she received a special presidential award from AMATYC President Susan Wood in recognition of the work she did for AMATYC in her position of Program Coordinator. In 2004, Vicki was asked by the leadership of NADE to coordinate the local arrangements for the 2005 NADE conference which was held in Albuquerque. Once again, she put her talents to work for mathematics and developmental education to help put together another great and successful conference.

Because Vicki was so competent, dependable, organized and hard working, few people were aware that she had suffered since early childhood from diabetes. Her condition was serious enough that she required multiple daily insulin injections, but she never made a big deal of it. She completed her duties and worked harder than most people I have ever met, never complaining or using her illness as an excuse for anything. Over the years, the diabetes took its toll on her health, as diabetes is wont to do. She suffered from many complications related to the diabetes, including (but far from limited to) vision problems, bone problems and heart disease.

She and her husband Gary have one daughter, Randi, who was the light of Vicki’s life. Vicki was a loving and devoted wife and mother who never ceased to provide anyone within hearing range of the successes and accomplishments of the daughter she adored J. Vicki was also an accomplished quilt maker, and, at one time, she had a collection of koalas that filled an entire room. She was an immaculate housekeeper and loved doing things to her yard to make it look pretty. She loved lobster, shrimp and margaritas, although she couldn’t have the margaritas too often due to her illness.

As a friend, Vicki was steadfast and loyal. She was always there to lend a helping hand, a listening ear, or solid support for those she considered her friends. I was truly fortunate to be included in this group. Vicki and I worked closely in NMMATYC and AMATYC, on the NMIMR grant, and were friends throughout those times and after. She was an important influence on my life and a very special part of the 18 years we were friends and colleagues. From November 7-13, 2005, Vicki and I roomed together at the AMATYC San Diego Conference. She had been unable to attend the 2004 AMATYC Conference, and was happy and excited to meet new people and renew friendships and spend time with people she had worked with in AMATYC. We had good times visiting and remembering and enjoying each other’s company during the time we were in San Diego. When we left each other on Sunday the 13th to go to our respective homes, we promised each other we would get together more often than we had done in the recent past. Two weeks later, on November 28, Vicki passed away.

She was 52 years of age, full of life, energy, dedication to teaching and love for her family and friends. She left us far too soon, and those of us who knew and loved her – in New Mexico and across these United States, for her influence was far reaching – feel a deep and painful loss. I have a brand new grand-daughter born on February 22 – Vicki’s birthday. That makes me smile – and I bet Vicki is smiling too.