The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Christopher Cirmo, 63, was the dean of the College of Letters and Science until his unexpected passing in May.
Cirmo passed away on May 26 while jogging, according to the Stevens Point Journal.
He had served as the Dean of the College of Letters and Science since 2009.
“Eric Yonke took over as current acting dean,” said Todd Good, the associate dean for budget, personnel and facilities of COLS.
“I worked with him quite a bit since 2009. He was very gregarious and outgoing, he loved to help out students who were first generation students in their families but he had a passion for any higher education,” said Good.
Good said that Cirmo was great at fostering discussion on difficult topics and communicating with others.
One of his biggest accomplishments was helping the new chemistry and biology building get off the ground.
“He was very instrumental in that project, working with the Chancellor and the state to get it moving,” said Good.
“He also introduced a civil discourse initiative where he would discuss how to engage in conversation with someone who doesn’t have the same views as you,” said Good.
His most recent discussion took place last fall. The session dealt with presidential politics.
Good said that one of the projects Cirmo didn’t get the chance to start, was moving to get a center for ethics on campus. This would be an interdisciplinary department on campus. It would deal with any subject or major that would deal with ethics, Like science and business majors for example.
“I met Dr. Cirmo at a College of Letters and Science meeting after I’d been chosen to be the student representative for the Department of World Languages and Literatures. He always showed interest and passion for diversity and inclusivity on campus,” said Carlui Pimentel, a student of College of Letters and Science.
“I remember one of the meetings we were discussing students of color on campus and I was the only person of color in that room and I didn’t feel comfortable speaking for all of the students of color on campus. But Dr. Cirmo made me more comfortable when he shared his experiences as an Italian-American and how it changed his views of the world,” said Pimentel.
“He was all around a good person and had a way of making people feel special,” said Pimentel.
“Every time we would run into each other he would put a smile on my face.”
Christopher Cirmo will be missed, but well remembered by all those whose lives he touched.
Aaron Zimmerman
News Reporter
Azimm667@uwsp.edu
