Shirley R Curran

Shirley Curran, 91, of Tempe, AZ, passed away after a brief illness on December 28, 2016. Born an only child on July 18, 1925 in Oak Park, IL to Fred and Helen Rossman, Shirley grew up in the loving embrace of grandparents, aunts and uncles who nurtured her natural intelligence and curiosity. She graduated from Oak Park High in 1943 and spent two years studying at Rosary College. Her studies were interrupted by her marriage to William Curran, a young Naval officer and college roommate of a dear family friend. They were married in September of 1944. When the war ended in 1945, the young couple began their life in Iowa, where Bill was a graduate student at the University of Iowa. His career as an English professor brought them to Coe College in Iowa, and a Fulbright year in Vienna. During this time they had two sons. An eventual career shift saw them in Washington, DC. In 1961, Bill’s began a career in the Foreign Service and the family moved to Athens, Greece. Shirley shone as an embassy hostess, entertaining dignitaries of literature, theater and film. In 1965, the family returned to the United States, with a baby daughter in tow. In 1971, Shirley came to Arizona. In 1972, she began working at Hayden Library at ASU, in Collections and Acquisitions, where she continued to work until her retirement in 1999. In her long career at the Hayden Library, Shirley made many life long friends across departments at the University, and earned many accolades. In her retirement, she volunteered as a docent at the ASU Art Museum, a job she loved. Shirley was brilliant, vibrant, witty, a world-class hostess, and loyal friend. She was never happier than when she was planning a party for friends. She is survived by her children, Bruce Curran and wife Sudi Swirles of Durham NC, Barry Curran and Neus Valls of Barcelona Spain, and daughter Courtney Stanford of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and five grandchildren, Robert Curran, Nuria and Paul Curran and Grant and Ian Stanford, and many wonderful friends. A memorial in her honor will be held at Old Main at ASU on March 11, 2017 from 2-4 pm.