Obituary of Herberta Lundegren

Herberta M. "Herbie" Lundegren, 81, of State College, died Wednesday April 3, 2013 of complications of Parkinson's disease at her home in State College, PA. Herbie was born June 20, 1931, in Hingham, MA and she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Margaret Brett Lundegren. She is survived by her sister, Diana Pogorzelski and her husband Vincent of Randolph NJ; her brother J. Richard Brett, nieces, Brett Morganelli and her husband, Paul, of Upton MA, Dana Pogorzelski and her husband, Tim Willke, of Mountain Lakes NJ, Stacey Pogorzelski and her husband, David Fiol, of Novato, CA, Gena Pogorzelski and her husband, Jim Ponichtera, of Madison, NJ, Lynda Hutchings of Hanson, MA and Kim Brett of Falmouth, MA; her cousin Margaret Campbell of Monroe, VA and cherished grand-nieces and nephews. Herbie graduated from Hingham High School in 1948 where she excelled in sports and academics. She graduated with a Bachelor's from Bouve/Tufts University, earned her Master's from UNC-Greensboro and received her PhD from University of Iowa; degrees were in Physical Education. In reflecting on her exceptional career, Herbie was as proud of her time as a camp counselor at Fernwood and teaching at Miss Porter's School in Connecticut as she was with devoting 40 years to educating and mentoring at her beloved Penn State. She conducted research on physical fitness of older adults and on the motor performance of persons with disabilities and advised over 150 graduate students. Herbie was president of the University Faculty Senate and the Commission for Women and served on over 120 committees. Her awards included McKay Donkin Award and the Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award. She was the co-author of two books with Dr. Patricia Farrell, The Process of Recreation Programming, and Evaluation for Leisure Service Managers. Dr. Lundegren retired from the position of Senior Associate Dean for the College of Health and Human Development at PSU with emeritus status in 2000, and prior to that was Associate Dean in the former College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation as well as serving as interim dean and interim chair for the Department of Recreation and Parks . After retiring, Herbie continued serving the State College community as a board member for both the Centre Community Hospital and Nittany Valley Symphony and continued her education by taking classes at Penn State. Herbie was a lifelong athlete. As an adult she loved running, golf and skiing and her house was full of every kind of sports equipment. She and friends traveled to the Tanglewood Music Festival annually and she was a frequent attendee at the Nittany Valley Symphony. Herbie inspired her nieces (two of whom graduated from Penn State) to birdwatching and a general love of sports, music, books and the outdoors. Herbie will be remembered for her gentle laugh, her commitment to charity, her devotion to friends and family and her enjoyment of life. Visitation will be 6 until 8 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2013 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College, with the Father Matthew Laffey officiating. Burial will be at Centre County Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Herberta M. Lundegren Graduate Scholarship in Leisure Studies at Penn State University, C/O Old Main, 201 Old Main University Park, PA 16802, or to the Nittany Valley Symphony, 270 Walker Drive #105, State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.