By Frances Matteck/nw news editor
Dr. Anamaria Shaw was a loving mother, extraordinary teacher and active combatant in the fight against breast cancer.
Dr. Shaw died Nov. 25 after a 15-year battle with the disease.
The SE Campus English professor is remembered for her dedication to living life. She continued to teach until two weeks prior to her death and be involved in the community even after her diagnosis.
She and SE computer science assistant professor Lydia Macaulay formed a team to walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She also served on the board of the Tarrant County chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Macaulay recounted how Shaw would continue to teach and participate in organizations even after painful chemotherapy treatments.
“ I will remember Ana as not just someone who worked to survive cancer, but someone who worked to live despite cancer,” Macaulay said.
“ She would say it’s a chronic disease and many people live with chronic diseases that are more painful and with no possibility of a cure. That’s living despite cancer.”
Dr. Shaw was devoted to her students and served on many District committees to enrich Tarrant County College for them. Her dedication was recognized in 2002 when she was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching.
Dr. Pauline Griffith, professor in South’s English department, said Shaw’s ability to laugh at herself showed when Griffith ran Shaw as a candidate for office in the Texas Community College Teachers Association.
“ She was good-natured enough to wear a yellow suit and let me give out bananas and fliers that said ‘Vote for Anabanana,’” Griffith said. “She was a lady with a great sense of humor who could laugh at herself while doing a 110 percent job at whatever was asked of her.”
South Campus history assistant professor Larry Story described her as intelligent and insightful.
“ I would read and think about a topic for weeks and then try it out on her to see what I knew,” Story said.
“ In about 10 minutes, she not only understood everything I understood but had pointed out some things I had missed.”
“ What none of this addresses, of course, is what a good person she was — kind, generous and witty. People just liked her and gravitated to her.”
Throughout Shaw’s illness, her chief concern was always for her daughter, Megan.
Theresa Schrantz had been a friend and colleague of Shaw’s for nearly 20 years. She witnessed Shaw’s love toward her daughter first hand.
“ Their relationship is one of the most beautiful love stories I have witnessed,” said Schrantz, SE sociology assistant professor. “She collected hearts. She certainly touched many.”
Story remembered a quote about Benjamin Franklin that he “was a man who knew his own mind and knew the words to speak it.” He thought the same thing could be said about Shaw.
“ Some people have that gift of character that puts people at ease, draws them to that person and opens the doors of communication,” Story said. “It’s a special trait that can’t be taught or learned but is evident in our best teachers. Dr. Shaw has that gift.”
Surviving are her daughter of Fort Worth; her parents, Judith and Carlos Diaz of New York; her brother and sister-in-law, Carlos and Cheryl Diaz of Michigan.
The memorial service is 3 p.m. today at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
