Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: Wednesday 12/09/98
CATHERINE COMINSKY
CATHERINE COMINSKY, was born in Las Animas Colorado in 1920. She attended the University of Colorado where she received her BA, MA and PhD degrees. She taught biology at the University of Houston for 41 years and chaired the department for three years and was instrumental in placing more than 1500 students in medical & dental schools. At the University of Colorado she received the Phi Sigma award for excellence in research. Catherine co-authored a book ``A Form of Biological Evolution, The History of the Biology Department of the University of Houston 1927-1987'' with Dr. Sara E. Huggins. In 1970 she was awarded The University of Houston Teaching Award and in 1976 received the Minnie Stevens Piper Award for teaching excellence. She established the Texas Delta Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta which she sponsored for 27 years. Catherine also sponsored The Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental Society at the University of Houston. While at U of H, she was president and also secretary of The Faculty Association. She retired in 1987. She was greatly interested in classical music and oil painting. She was a member of American Women in Science and The Retirees Association. Catherine joined a ``sew and chat'' group and also ``The Lunch Bunch''. She attended seminars at Baylor University concerning atomic energy and she was a member of The Golden Key Organization, Sigma Xi, National Scientific Society, and several other groups. Preceded in death by her husband Lt. Cdr Charles COMINSKY, she is survived by her son, Charles Michael, Robert Stacey, and William COMINSKY, mother, Ruby Beck Brown, sister Patricia Lydia Sulek; daughter in law Jane COMINSKY, granddaughter, Kari; sisters in law Betty Cocco and Mary Garcia. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 10 am, in the A .D. Bruce Chapel At the University of Houston, Entrance # 13, Lots 13 & 15. Phone (713) 743-5050. Visitation at Klein Funeral Home Thursday from 2 to 9 pm. Interment services will be 1:30 pm, Friday in the chapel of the Houston National VA Cemetery, 10414 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. For those desiring memorials may be made to the Undergraduate Catherine COMINSKY Scholarship Fund at the University of Houston.