With somber faces or puffy eyes, with cracked voices and tears, Gilbert Public Schools officials remembered governing board President Sheila Rogers Uggetti at the board’s Sept. 24 meeting.
Uggetti died of cancer Sept. 15. She served the district 40 years as a teacher, interim director of human resources, principal and, for the past nearly eight years, a board member.
The board left Uggetti’s seat vacant, and a display of flowers in front of the dais by her seat.
Superintendent Shane McCord, sitting next to where she would be on the dais, recounted her life and career.
“She not only leaves a spot here, but huge hole in our hearts,” she said. ‘The things that she's contributed to Gilbert Public Schools, to education in the state of Arizona, and she was also superintendent in Douglas at one point in time, a longtime Gilbert Elementary principal — we are just going to miss her dearly.”
McCord invited the four surviving board members to add any thoughts if they wanted, and all took the opportunity.
The two newest members — Chad Thompson and Ronda Page — showed the most emotion.
Page said since Uggetti was diagnosed with a recurrence of her cancer in March, she got to know her very well.
“We would be on the phone sometimes for hours talking — and by talking, I mean me listening to the many, many stories that she had to tell about her very rich life,” Page said. “She would tell me stories about her family, her extended family, her friends, her adventures, and she was a master storyteller. She would weave color into any story and just make it so interesting, and she taught me so much.”
Thompson’s voice broke as he concluded brief remarks.
“Over the past two years, Sheila has become a dear friend, and I'll miss her incredibly,” she said.
Lori Wood was first elected to the board at the same time Uggetti was in 2016.
“She brought a lifetime of knowledge and experience in education and her great passion for Gilbert Public Schools, students, teachers, families and our community,” she said. “She worked to find the best solutions to the complex problems and issues that come before us as a governing board and to focus on our students and to create the best learning opportunities for all of our students.”
Jill Humpherys, the longest-tenured board member, said she met Uggetti when she, as Sheila Rogers, served as the Gilbert Elementary principal and before Humpherys joined the board.
“I know she was a real supporter of the arts, and that's what we had in common,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve with her, and I know that there are many people who are going to miss her.”
Also on Sept. 24 over at Gilbert Town Hall, Mayor Brigette Peterson included Uggetti’s passing in her mayor’s report.
“Sheila was a great friend to many of us in this community and supported public education through her life,” Peterson said. “I know we will all remember Sheila fondly.”
A slide of Uggetti shown during the mayor's report concluded with "Her legacy of kindness, patience and strength will be missed."
Gilbert Public Schools is planning a public celebration of Uggetti’s life at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Gilbert High School auditorium.
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