Please remember in your prayers Liz Pojar, who has worked at St. Thomas since 1991. She was with her family when she died Feb. 3 at her parents’ home.
“Liz planned events at St. Thomas for nearly 24 years, always with a smile and a thoroughness, and she will be dearly missed,” said her former supervisor Doug Hennes, vice president for university and government relations.
Pojar graduated from St. Thomas in 1986 and was hired as an assistant director in the Alumni Office in 1991, promoted to associate alumni director, and in 2000 promoted to director of special events in the University Relations Department. She left that department in 2002 to join what became the Alumni and Constituent Relations Department as a program manager. Over the years, she planned and coordinated many St. Thomas events, including undergraduate and graduate commencement, St. Thomas Day and the President’s Christmas Party. She also was the liaison for retired faculty and staff members.
“Liz had an extraordinary amount of simple elegance,” said Rachel Wobschall, Ed.D., senior director of alumni relations, and Pojar’s supervisor. “One of her true hallmarks and contributions has been as the lead planner for commencement since 2005. One of the most poignant memories for me is last year, when she was having health problems, I saw her on a scooter taking care of commencement details at the Minneapolis Convention Center. It showed her commitment.”
Pojar loved to spend time watching her son, Joey, play sports, taking family trips to Florida, skiing, traveling with friends, especially to Bayfield and the North Shore, and playing with their dog, Reggie.
“Her life as a mom was clearly her priority in her life. And she did a great job at it,” Wobschall said. “She raised a great young man.”
Pojar is survived by her son, parents, two brothers and a sister.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Visitation at the chapel was one hour prior to the Mass. Following the Mass, a luncheon was held in James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall, third floor, Anderson Student Center.
Liz had created the John Pojar Memorial Scholarship in 2000, in memory of her husband. The scholarship supports St. Thomas students who graduated from St. Agnes High School in St. Paul.
