In Memoriam
Alumna, Trustee Emerita Joyce Juskalian Kolligian ’55 by Kate Seamans and Kimberly Swick Slover
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oyce Juskalian Kolligian ’55 of Belmont, Mass., and Long Boat Key, Fla., passed away the morning of June 11, 2013. With intelligence, humor and grace, Joyce provided wise counsel, fresh thinking and generous support to her alma mater for six decades. After 18 years of service on the Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees, Joyce was recognized at Commencement in absentia with the college’s highest award, the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service. During her time at Colby Junior, Joyce was active in
Joyce Juskalian Kolligian was recognized with the 2013 Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service. 76
student government and the Key Association, was a singer in the Buzzin’ Dozen, and served as class president. She graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in 1955 and in 1956 received the Graduate Award. In 1960, Joyce married Michael Kolligian and they raised two children. She remained involved in her alma mater and held numerous positions on the Alumnae Association from 1974 to 1980. In 1980, she was invited to give the Convocation Address. Joyce earned a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude at Simmons College and a Master of Business Administration degree with distinction from Simmons School of Management. She was the founder of Carlyle Associates, Inc., a marketing and communications consulting business. “Joyce was an incredible person and a tremendous friend of Colby-Sawyer,” said President Thomas C. Galligan Jr. “She was intelligent, generous, creative, determined, fun and passionate about her family and her schools. Joyce is one of the rocks
Colby-Sawyer College Magazine
upon which the modern Colby-Sawyer rests.” Joyce served as an alumni trustee from 1982 to 1985 and a term trustee from 1986 to 1991. She was the executive secretary for the Executive Committee and chair of the Board’s Advancement and Student Development Committees and the fundraising effort, Partners for the Future— The Next 150 Years. She was especially proud of her roles on the Presidential Search Committee that hired Dr. Peggy Stock and the Research Committee on Coeducation. Her outstanding service was recognized by the college in 1997 with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Joyce returned to ColbySawyer’s Board of Trustees from 2004 to May 2013. “Joyce showed that one person could make a difference and was profoundly dedicated to Colby-Sawyer. She took much joy from her service and gave much in return,” said Anne Winton Black ’73, ’75, former chair of the Board of Trustees. In 1986, Michael established the Joyce J. Kolligian Scholarship Fund at Colby-Sawyer in honor
of his wife’s birthday. After Michael’s death in 1998, Joyce created the Dr. Michael and Joyce Kolligian Scholarship Fund. In 2009, she established the Joyce J. Kolligian Distinguished Professorship in the Fine and Performing Arts. “Joyce Kolligian was a passionate and respected leader. Colby-Sawyer was enriched by her philanthropy and by her clear thinking, persuasive style and quick wit,” said Vice President for Advancement Beth Cahill. “She was beloved by the college community and by those who had the privilege of knowing her.” Joyce is survived by her children, Michael Kolligian III of Florida, and Valerie Thayer (Harvey Thayer Jr.) of Massachusetts, and her granddaughters, Olivia and Caroline Thayer. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joyce J. Kolligian Scholarship Fund at Colby-Sawyer College (541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257) and to the Holy Trinity Armenian Church (145 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138).