Deborah Ann Deery, 49, artist, college administrator
She took her canvases to the American West to capture its beauties.
DEBORAH ANN DEERY traveled to Western states and the California coastline, seeking the most dramatic scenery America has to offer to capture on canvas.
The awesome landscapes of desert and sea, rocks at sunrise and sunset, and twisted trees emerged from her brush in stunningly vibrant colors.
As described on her website, she hoped "to encourage viewers to see the landscape in a natural setting, void of tourists and human contact as they would if visiting directly."
As outstanding as Deborah was as an artist, her true vocation was as a teacher, her students varying from college art majors to youngsters in public and parochial schools, as well as underprivileged kids, to whom she introduced the joys of art.
Deborah Deery, a teacher and administrator at Moore College of Art and Design, a writer and community activist, died Aug. 19 at the age of 49 after an eight-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Deborah "had the unique gift of enriching the life of each person she met," her family said. "Under Deborah's guidance, students of all ages enjoyed her skill of teaching art and, more importantly, learned how to live a life of mutual respect and kindness."
"It is an understatement to say that she occupies a special place in our hearts, and that Deborah Deery, the teacher, colleague, artist and friend, will truly be missed," said Cecelia Fitzgibbon, president of Moore College.
Deborah was born in Philadelphia to Charles Lester Deery and Teresa DiCicco Deery. She attended South Philadelphia High School.
She began working at Moore as an admissions counselor in 1996. She became director of admissions in 1998, a position she held until March 2001.
Deborah earned a certificate in art education in May 2000 through Moore's postbaccalaureate program, and subsequently went on to get her master's in art education with an emphasis on special needs from Moore in August 2012.
In spring 2004, she began teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the fine-arts program. In 2009, she was appointed to a full-time visiting scholar position, and last May was named an assistant professor.
She taught art at Fitzsimmons Middle School, and Stella Maris and Our Lady of Mount Carmel parochial schools. She was the director of academic programs for Philadelphia Futures.
Deborah volunteered in art programs in the community, working with incarcerated youths and nonprofit arts organizations.
She was working on a series of sketches she had made along SEPTA's former C Bus route to accompany her short stories about the people who take the bus. She was in contact with a publisher for a book.
She married musician Pete MacGregor in 1998.
Moore College has established the Deborah Deery Art Education Award to be given to an outstanding student in art education. Donations may be made to Moore College c/o Linda Porch, 20th Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia 19103.
Besides her husband, she is survived by three brothers, Charles Richard Deery, Michael Ronald Deery and James Paul Deery.
Services: Moore College plans to host a memorial service for her at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27.