Denise Ronan

DENISE RONAN

On July 28th, San Marcos resident Denise Ronan passed away after a short battle with bladder
cancer in Brunswick, Maine. She was 75, and had been married almost 50 years.

Born to Ginette Suares Shual and Adolph Shual in Cairo, Egypt, her first languages were French
and Italian along with Arabic. However, her schooling, from earliest days, was in English-
language schools. Over the many years of her career in education, she was known to most as a
teacher of English and French.

Denise’s spirits did not succumb to illness. For thirty years, she fought multiple sclerosis while
remaining passionate about the arts, enjoying entertaining at home, teaching, traveling even in
countries with minimal wheelchair accessibility, and otherwise invigorating and inspiring the lives
of all her family, students, and acquaintances.

Retiring in 2000 after years of teaching English at Texas State, she was recognized as one of
that University’s pioneering women: the first female to conduct class from a wheelchair.

Following her retirement, she remained active, serving on the Texas State University Arts
Committee which helps bring cultural performances to Texas State. This was one of her great
passions in recent years. At UT Austin, she had been club president for the association of
English Department women and faculty wives.

And as a native of polyglot Cairo, Egypt, she took joy in world travel, acquiring enough
languages to converse in a half dozen of them.

She earned her BA in English at the American University at Cairo, where she became assistant
head of its English Language Institute. Her MA in English was from the University of Michigan.
Additionally, she was awarded instructional certifications from the University of California, the
Sorbonne, and Texas State.

She had diverse jobs in secondary and advanced education, including language tutor and chief
departmental secretary. In California, Texas, and Poland, she was employed as a tutor or
instructor in English and French.

In her final hours, she was attended by her husband Clifford Ronan, daughter Michelle Ronan
Noteboom (of Austin), son David Ronan (of California), and his partner Robert Ramirez. She is
survived by relatives and friends on five continents, including her son-in-law Bryan Noteboom
and grandchildren Michael, Madeleine, and Hope Noteboom, whom she greatly cherished.

Memorial services for Denise will be Friday, August 6th at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel 3901
Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78756. At approximately 3;30, burial will follow at San Marcos
City Cemetery, located on Ranch Road 12. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution
to the Lone Star Chapter of the National MS society, 9600 N. Mopac, Suite 150, Austin, TX
78759; or to the Texas State University/University Arts Committee @ 601 university drive,
78666.

Arrangements by Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche,San Marcos,  Texas 78666, 512-353-4311.  Obituary and guestbook online at www.penningtonfuneralhome.com

2 Condolences

• La Rae Chambers Leicht

  August 4th, 2010 on 7:21 pm

  i am sorry for your loss and will keep your family in my prayers.Mrs Ronan was my teacher when i attended Prairie Lea ISD. i have always remembered her fondly , she understood me , believd in me and helped me to find myself. she was an amazing mentor and will be missed,

• Monica S

  August 4th, 2010 on 8:25 pm

  I am truly sorry for your loss. She was a sweet lady. She was my french teacher my Jr and Sr year in Prairie Lea High School back in 84/85. I remember going to her house and making quiche and choc mousse.

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