Professor's devotion advanced university, students
Jose Luis Florez-Estrada first saw his future wife at a party in Madrid, Spain, where she was studying on a Fulbright Travel Grant.
“She was so beautiful,” he said.
When Nancy Beck returned to the United States to teach, they corresponded.
“The second time she came to Spain, I thought, ‘You don't let her go this time.' I proposed,” her husband said.
Dr. Nancy Beck Florez-Estrada of Greensburg died Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, from ovarian cancer. She was 73.
Though retired from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, she began instructing a fall course, until she was too ill to continue.
“She always loved language. Her Spanish was fantastic. I'm from Spain, and sometimes she would correct me,” Florez-Estrada said.
His wife loved traveling abroad with students, exposing them to other languages and cultures.
“She was the spiritual mother for all those kids,” he said.
Dr. Estela Llinas, associate professor of engineering and mathematics at UPG, and a native of Argentina, enjoyed sharing the Spanish language with her friend and colleague.
She was struck by Dr. Florez-Estrada's passion for her work, and her devotion to her students.
“It was reciprocal. She was always surrounded,” she said.
Dr. Florez-Estrada began her 32-year career at UPG in 1982 as a Spanish instructor and advanced to associate professor. She played key roles in the development of UPG's Spanish major and establishing the university's Latin American Studies Certificate program in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Center for Latin American Studies, and served as the UPG faculty adviser since its inception in 2001. She was instrumental in the International Village programming and won numerous academic awards during her career.
In addition to her husband, Dr. Florez-Estrada is survived by son Jaime Florez-Estrada and his wife, Claudia Visbal Florez-Estrada; daughter Krista Florez-Estrada Gallucci and husband, Nicolas; two grandchildren, Benjamin Gallucci and William Gallucci.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in UPG's Campana Chapel, 217 N. Campus Road, Greensburg.
William Snyder Funeral Home Inc., Irwin, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.
