Marcia Dugan, President of IFHOH from 2001 to 2006, passed away Feb. 7 at age 78 after a valiant battle with leukemia. Her children — Maggie, Elizabeth and Michael Dugan — were by her side at her home in Penn Yan, Yates County, United States.
During her long and varied career, Mrs. Dugan directed public relations for Keuka College (1972-1980) in Penn Yan and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (1980-1995) in Henrietta. But she made her strongest impact as a spokeswoman for hard of hearing persons like herself.
She began losing her hearing at age 40, while teaching math in Penn Yan's public schools. It was an intensely unnerving experience that became grist for her books, Keys to Living with Hearing Loss (Barrons, 1997) and Living with Hearing Loss (Gallaudet University Press, 2003). They are considered essential coping guides for people adapting to auditory impairment.
She became president of the Hearing Loss Association of America (1996-1998), then IFHOH. She was instrumental in getting IFHOH involved in the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and was a mentor to numerous younger persons.
States Brenda Battat, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America in Bethesda, Md. ""She was always encouraging us to stay involved with international issues around hearing loss. We're really going to miss her."
Marcia was born in New Orleans and moved to Cuba when her father joined the Old Time Molasses Company. She was a championship swimmer at her Havana schools. She returned to America to attend Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. There she met her future husband, Frederick, a Yates County man who became a well-known county family court and surrogate judge until his death in 1987. Mrs. Dugan was an enthusiastic sailor, skier and globetrotter. Closer to home, she was long active with local Republican organizations and was named Yates County Republican of the Year in 1979. She also helped to establish the Yates County Arts Council and served as a trustee for Keuka College, which awarded her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in December 2009
Among the outpouring of tributes are the following:
I had the pleasure of working with Marcia during the negotiations for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and I particularly remember how she, during a meeting in Panama, tried hard to push for the rights of hard of hearing people and recruiting new members to IFHOH in Latin America. IFHOH became a member of IDA during her time - not without difficulties - and is now a full and strong member of the global disability movement with JP currently chairing IDA. Tomas Lagerwall of Sweden, Past RI Secretary General
She has contributed a lot to change the attitude of people against hard of hearing people. In stead of ridiculous people to make fun of, she personalized and fought for the dignity of hard of hearing people and she was very accurate. Lex Grandia, Belgium, World Federation of the Deaf/Blind Union
It is with sadness that I have received the news of Marcia's untimely passing. Memories of her warmth of personality and the wisdom of her contributions at IDA meetings fill one with gratitude. William Rowland, South Africa, World Blind Union
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