Linda Hardenbergh worked in the College of Public and Community Services from 1999 to 2011. During that time she inspired many students and helped them on their way to success. Her optimism and bubbly nature endeared her to her co-workers.
Suzanne Allmendinger, professional staff advisor for the Office of Student Services and a friend of Hardenberg said, “She had a place in all our hearts. You could not help liking Linda”.
Hardenbergh was an excellent advisor. Allmendinger described her methodology;
“She advised students in their courses. She gave them direction. She would really listen to their problems and was very personal with students. She treated each one as a unique individual in order to give them the best help possible.”
Sunni Ali is one of the many students whose life was affected by Hardenbergh.
“Linda was the main reason I was able to enroll and continue my education to its completion. She was like a mother goose looking after her gosling. She made sure I always had an advisor, consultant, financial aid assistant and registrar because she filled the role of each and every one of them herself,” Ali said.
“She even scolded me if I didn’t keep my calendar straight or missed a class. I have never known a person or administrator that went that far out of their way to help people, even when they didn’t help themselves much. Just thinking of all the time and effort she put into me graduating fills my heart with joy tempered with sadness because I miss her and long to hear her say ‘Oh Sunni, don’t you ever read your school emails?’ It brings tears to my heart to think of all that she has done for me and I cannot look her in the face and say ‘Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!’ Every time I look at my degree or my picture walking across the stage I see Linda, and I am grateful that I got to know her and that she touched my life.”
Hardenbergh died of lung cancer at the age of 59, leaving behind her fiancé Michael Adams, and daughter Jennifer. The time from prognosis to her passing was short and for all involved, her loss was sudden. To preserve her memory, a memorial service was held last Wednesday at the Fox Point Pavilion. A bench has been placed there with a plaque that reads “Linda Sue Hardenbergh. In gratitude for her dedicated, enthusiastic and loyal service to the students, faculty and staff of the College of Public and Community Service 1999-2011. Your smile and optimism will endure with us always.”
A scholarship is also being set up in her name for students in the College of Public and Community Service. The scholarship will be for $2,000 or more.
Allmendinger explained why the memorial felt necessary.
“She was taken so quickly we felt we wanted to do something to keep her memory. We decided on a bench at Fox Point because that is where she liked to eat her lunch, looking out at the ocean with her back to Wheatly where she worked. So it seemed like a good place to go and remember her by.”
Linda Hardenbergh will be greatly missed by her friends and family. She was truly one of UMB’s finest.
Contributions to the memorial scholarship fund can be made by sending a check to UMass Boston, Institutional Advancement, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125.