Celebrated UM alumna Emma Lommasson recently passed away at the age of 107 and the University of Montana plans a celebration of her life inviting all to attend.

UM Communications Director Paula Short said tributes to Emma Lommasson have been pouring in from all over the country.

“The campus has received a number of tributes from around the country who had Emma Lommasson as an instructor, who worked with her when she was a registrar, and particularly, a lot of veterans remember her as someone who helped them when they returned to school and she assisted them in getting their veterans benefits under the G.I. Bill,” said Short. “She had an incredible impact on the campus over her 107 years and that’s what we’ll be celebrating on campus.”

Short provided the details of the celebration.

“The celebration of Emma Lommasson’s life will take place on Tuesday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m. in the University Center ballroom,” she said. “We have a number of speakers and lots of music groups. In fact our carilloner here on campus will be playing the carillon in Main Hall. Emma loved the carillon, so those arriving on campus will be greeted by that wonderful music.”

Short said that Ms. Lommasson would probably think ‘we’re making too much of a fuss’, but that hers was certainly a life to be celebrated.

In 2001, UM renamed the Lodge business building and cafeteria as the Lommasson Center in her honor. When she turned 100, the University also created a scholarship in her name, and gifts can be made to the UM Foundation and noted for the Emma B. Lommasson Scholarship.

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