In Loving Memory of Anca Romantan

May 18, 2008 -- Dr. Anca Romantan, an assistant professor in Communication at UMass Amherst, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2008 after a long struggle with lung cancer.

Memorial Service, Memorial Hall, UMass Amherst, May 18, 2008

Dr. Anca Romantan, an assistant professor in Communication at UMass Amherst, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2008 after a long struggle with lung cancer. She was at home in Arlington, MA, with her husband Cornel Ban and her mother Adrianna Romantan.

Dr. Anca Romantan received her PhD from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania and was hired at the Department of Communication, UMass Amherst in fall 2006. Her appointment to the department was universally received with excitement and a sense of magic, and her energy, courage and commitments to teaching and writing in the course of her illness have been sustaining–to her but also to those around her. If you would like to send a card or note for Anca’s family, please send it to the following address:

Cornel Ban C/O Emily West

Communication Department, Machmer Hall

University of Massachusetts

240 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9278

A memorial service celebrating Anca's life (1975-2008) took place in Memorial Hall, UMass Amherst, on May 18, 2008. Please see photos of her and the memorial service below:

Another memorial service took place during the International Communication Association conference in Montreal, QC:

Saturday, May 24th 2008
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Salon 8, Le Centre Sheraton, Montreal, QC

We are announcing the organization of a special fund in Anca's memory to provide pain medications for terminally ill patients in Romania who would not otherwise have access to such a critical resource. Anca made clear that medication contributed so importantly to her quality of life during her illness, and wanted to help patients in Romania, where such medications are not readily available. A foundation is being set up to buy these supplies and distribute them through Romanian hospices. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please make a cheque out to Corrnel Ban at the address of the Department of Communication above, with "Anca Romantan Memorial Fund" in the memo line.

Anca has many friends and suporters in the Department of Communication, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, all of whom have contributed funds to this event, as have several individuals. We thank you.

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