Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 14:31:56 -0400
Sender: Mass Media & Communication Doctoral Program at Temple University <MMC@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU>
From: Carolyn Kitch <ckitch@temple.edu>
Subject: [MMC] Sad news
To: MMC@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU


FROM THE MMC LISTSERV:

Dear MMC community,

It is with sympathy and appreciation that I send you this obituary for Sidra
Lombard, who recently passed away. As an alumna of the MMC program, I was
one of many students, and later faculty, who can attest to Sidra's social
role in making us all feel like a community. She will be missed, and we
convey our deepest sympathies to Matthew.

Information about how you might remember Sidra, if you wish, is at the end
of the text below. You also may want to contact Matthew directly at
<lombard@temple.edu>.

Carolyn


--
Carolyn Kitch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director, Doctoral Program in Mass Media and Communication
School of Communications and Theater
2020 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia PA 19122
ckitch@temple.edu
215-204-5077

**********************

Sidra, Matthew Lombard's dog who was well known to many MM&C
students, alums and faculty members, has died.

With her 'godmother,' former MM&C student Janis Overlock,
Matthew adopted Sidra from the PSPCA (Pennsylvania Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) facility on Erie
Avenue in Philadelphia in March 1993. Sidra, a black lab mix,
was one year old and had been returned to the facility after
just giving birth to puppies. Her name, taken from a "Name
Your Baby" book, means "star-like," a vague reference to a
spot of white fur on her chest.

When Matthew served as director of the Temple/London program
in fall 1999 an alum of the BTMM department, Meredith Landis,
sublet his apartment and cared for Sidra (who got to play
with Meredith's dog Bailey). The next fall MM&C student
Richard Woodard sublet and cared for Sidra when Matthew was
away for the same reason.

MM&C students Rick Popp and his wife Shannon, Heather Muse
and her husband Mike, and MM&C alum Gisela Gil-Egui and her
husband Jose also all took care of Sidra at various times,
and Rick, Gisela and MM&C student Linda Greenwood especially
helped her and Matthew as Sidra's health worsened this
summer.

Sidra was a regular host at MM&C Semester parties throughout
her life and a guest at several July 4th faculty parties at
Andy Mendelson's home. She took every opportunity to try new
"people foods" at these events, whether they were given to
her or just left within her reach.

Sidra enjoyed being taken on long walks (she even visited
Annenberg Hall a few times after walking to campus from her
home in Center City), visiting other dogs at the dog run at
Seger Playground (at 10th and Lombard), playing in the snow,
wading in fountains, and, when she was younger, chasing
squirrels.

Sidra had an amazingly sweet and tolerant disposition.
Matthew notes that she taught him, among other things, to try
to be more patient and easygoing. She was a wonderful source
of support for him when Matthew was recovering from surgery
for a broken ankle in the first half of 2004.

She died on Tuesday August 30 at the age of 13 and a half
from bladder cancer. Pictures of Sidra are on Matthew's web
site (matthewlombard.com). In lieu of flowers, donations can
be sent to the Humane Society of the United States
(hsus.org), petfinder.org, or other pet rescue and adoption
charities.

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