Mary Lucado, interlibrary loan borrowing supervisor for the University Libraries, passed away on Wednesday, May 4.

She joined the University Libraries in June 1990 in the media center and moved into positions in circulation. Her last 15 years with the library were in interlibrary loan, a team in the collections and technical services department. While serving the library, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Tech.

Lucado was well known for her kindness and willingness to go above and beyond to acquire research materials for the university community. She always had a smile on her face, ready and eager to take on the day. According to her colleagues, her attention to detail and problem-solving skills exemplified the pride she took in providing high-quality service to faculty and students.

She was instrumental in implementing a vast expansion of additional interlibrary loan (ILL) services to provide research material and resources for Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students. Lucado routinely compiled critical statistical data analysis reports for her department and strove to display the information in a format that provided a clearer vision of data she collected. 

“Among many of her attributes, she represented an outstanding team approach in her effort to accomplish not only her personal goals, but the ILL unit’s goals and new initiatives,” said Sharon Gotkiewicz, unit supervisor for interlibrary loan. “She always wanted to make everyone’s life better, willing to help in any way she could.”

Lucado loved to learn and taught herself many of the skills she needed to succeed in her job. She pursued opportunities to increase her knowledge, gather ideas, and develop skills by attending conferences, webinars, and training sessions to further contribute to her team and the library.

Gotkiewicz fondly remembers Lucado’s fun sense of humor and her love of Christmas.

“Mary loved Christmas, and she would start her Christmas endeavors beginning in July by sending her co-workers the Christmas countdown clock and some Christmas music to go with it,” said Gotkiewicz. “Mary got a kick out of this, and we all knew it was coming every July and didn’t end until Christmas.”

Lucado also had many interests and hobbies such as researching genealogy, going to auctions, crafting, cross-stitching, collecting stamps, working in her flower gardens, and caring for her two cats.

“She loved life, her family, friends, and co-workers,” said Gotkiewicz. “Mary will be greatly missed.”