Tree planted to remember professor
Maria Isela Chiu’s life and career was honored on the warm, quiet afternoon of Sept. 24, with a tree-planting ceremony on the south side of Old Main Hill. A small gathering of faculty and students celebrated Chiu’s life around a newly planted Magnolia.
The tree-planting ceremony was one of two within recent weeks that have been in commemoration of Chiu, a Spanish instructor, and Renate S. Posthofen, a German professor. These two members of the department of languages, philosophy and speech communication passed away within weeks of each other during the summer. Bradford Hall, department head, said that they chose to plant trees to honor Chiu and Posthofen because they symbolize life and the living legacy that these faculty members have left behind.
Posthofen was an accomplished scholar and was greatly loved by her students. She had published three books, as well as numerous articles.
“It’s hard because you are missing a colleague,” said Maria Coredero, Spanish instructor. “It’s just so sad.”
A tree was planted on the south side of the Family Life building on Sept. 17 to honor Posthofen.
Chiu was recognized for her many talents, her sense of fashion humanitarian spirit and her devotion to her students.
Chiu rendered a great service during her nearly 30 years at Utah State.
“It wasn’t enough,” Kent Robson, philosopher and former department head said. “We all could have benefited and learned from her for many years to come.”
Those who worked closely with and were close to Chiu each took a turn speaking of their former colleague and friend. Each speaker would emerge from the shade and symbolically pour some soil over the roots of the tree after they had spoken about Chiu.
“She was my professor. She came prepared in a way that we could relate to the author. She would try to apply her lessons to our lives, she was very considerate to her students,” said Brian Rodebush, a grad student in second language teaching, of his former teacher.
“She advised hundreds, maybe even thousands of students. She was enormously helpful to both students and faculty and it is a great loss to not have her here with us,” Robsen said.
In 2000 Chiu received national recognition as adviser of the year. Coredero spoke of her generous spirit which helped her to excel as an adviser and truly help her students.
“One time a student came to Isela (Chiu) and was being advised. He was living out of his car and had no food and Isela bought him food. She didn’t tell me about this, the student told me what she had done and he later told me it was something he would never forget,” Coredero said. She understood the pain that she saw in the world, she said, which is why she made such an excellent adviser.
Many of Chiu’s colleagues talked about her sense of humor.
“I learned two things from Isela. How to laugh at the world and how to laugh at myself,” a faculty member said at the ceremony.
Chiu was noted for her optimism and friendly disposition that got her through her trials.
“It was really amazing how positive she was in spite of what was going on in her life. In spite of the cancer, she was able to bounce back from that adversity because of her attitude,” Hall said.
The Magnolia tree was chosen to represent this attitude because of its rich blossoms that faculty felt reflected her kind and uplifting spirit.
The gathering became a tearful one as Monica Jimenez, Spanish professor, spoke of her close friend.
“To talk about my best friend is difficult. She was always thoughtful of everybody, she was so loving, she was so accepting,” Jimenez said. “Her life was her teaching. Her department was her life. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not reminded of her.”
The Magnolia is planted on the south end of Old Main Hill, just west of the amphitheater. The university plans to make an entire grove of Magnolias to replace the crab apple trees that will be cut down in the near future. A plaque will be placed next to the original Magnolia to complete the memorial for Chiu.
–beck.turner@aggiemail.usu.edu