Longtime Staff Member Eleanor J. Cadugan Dies

Eleanor J. “Ellie” Cadugan, who retired from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006 following a 27-year career here, passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2015, at Family Hospice, following a short illness. She was 69 years old. 

Cadugan joined Pitt in 1979 and held a number of prominent positions, including serving as director of Management and Staff Development Programs in the Office of Human Resources, executive assistant to the Department of Psychiatry chair, and administrative manager of the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering.

In 2004, she was named executive assistant to Vice Chancellor Albert Novak in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Novak remembers her as “an intelligent, bright, and friendly colleague and friend to many. Her devotion to the University of Pittsburgh extended beyond her employment.” 

After her retirement, Cadugan eventually returned to Pitt as part of All-Temps, where her assignments included serving in the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the Chancellor. She also returned to the Office of Institutional Advancement as a volunteer, “masterfully assisting with whatever needed to be done,” Novak recalls.

A native of Green Tree, Cadugan earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Westminster College and her master’s degree in English literature from Duquesne University. Upon graduation, she began her career as a high school English teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. 

A longtime resident of Shadyside, Cadugan enjoyed taking long walks and walked to campus almost every day. Although she did not earn a degree from Pitt, she was considered by many to be a true member of the Blue-and-Gold Family. She loved the University and formed lasting friendships with many of her colleagues. She also was a member of the University’s 1787 Society.