Provost Peggy Agouris sent the following message to the campus community on August 2, 2022. – Ed.
Dear colleagues,
I am writing to share the news that Elaine M. Themo, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, died on July 19, 2022. The only child of Alice Crossland and Andrew Themo, Elaine was born in 1938 in Newton, Massachusetts, where she spent her childhood. After graduating from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in cultural anthropology, she earned an MA in sociology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in Latin American studies and cultural anthropology from the American University School of International Service.
In 1966 she joined the William & Mary faculty as an assistant professor of sociology, one of very few female professors in that department at the time. At 28 and among the youngest instructors, Professor Themo was a sought-after member of a number of departmental and university committees. Well-regarded as a teacher, she was also a living role model and mentor for college women, and served as faculty advisor for Women’s Equity, the first campus-wide student group created to articulate and advocate for feminist issues and goals. .
After her retirement from William & Mary in 2000, Elaine was able to take a more active role in the wider community. She was elected to the board of directors for the Williamsburg Area League of Women Voters and for several years co-chaired the “Big Decisions” program sponsored by the League. As a board member for the Christopher Wren Lifelong Learning Program (now the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), she coordinated a “Town & Gown” lunchtime lecture series and taught a popular course on Jane Austen from a sociological perspective. She served on the board of the Williamsburg Chamber Music Association and was a passionate supporter of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and WHRO public radio and television. After moving to the Williamsburg Landing retirement community in 2014, Elaine led a new lecture series on political and cultural issues called “Now Hear This” and was elected to the Landing Residents Council.
Professor Themo was a generous donor to her alma mater and a variety of organizations dedicated to service and the arts, and made major gifts to the building of the Williamsburg Hospice House and the Williamsburg Landing Senior Day Care Center, as well as the expansion of the Humane Society’s Animal Heritage shelter.
Elaine Themo is survived by many friends who remember her love of music and all the arts, love of travel and wonderful laugh. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held in the fall. Memorials may be made online to Bucktrout of Williamsburg.
Sincerely,
Peggy
