Colette M. Abbott, wife of University of South Dakota President James W. Abbott, died suddenly Wednesday at their home in Vermillion. She was 59. USD’s first lady was diagnosed with cancer last week and was awaiting surgery. Final arrangements are pending.
“Faculty, staff and students are grieving this loss because Colette was such an important member of the USD community. Our sympathies are with President Abbott and his family,” said Tena Haraldson, director of Marketing Communications & University Relations.
Colette Pugh grew up in Pierre, South Dakota, and attended USD. She married James W. Abbott in 1987. They have three adult daughters and two grandchildren. He became USD president in 1997. As first lady, she hosted people at the president’s house and joined him at numerous university events.
She was also active in numerous local and statewide community organizations, including the Children’s Home Society, Children’s Home Foundation, South Dakota Community Foundation, National Music Museum, Farber Fund Board and South Dakota Symphony.
Colette was also an an avid runner and founded South Dakota’s first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in 2008 at the DakotaDome. The series of runs and fitness raises money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
“Colette was so much a part of USD,” said Jim Moran, USD provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We always took notice of her enthusiasm that helped make each event she attended so special. We remember her as a solid basis of support, not just for President Abbott, but for each and every one of us whose lives she touched. We will remember her cheering at the basketball games, her greeting students at the last night finals week breakfast, and her welcoming smile at all of the presidential functions she hosted. USD will not quite be the same for a time, but for now we focus on our sympathy and prayers for President Abbott and his family.”