Mrs. Kristina Marie Crittenberger Brockmeier (Ph.D. ’92), Librarian at Providence Day School (PDS), whose 30-year career included the leadership of libraries within public, college, and independent school settings, died of cancer at 55 on October 13, 2009 in her home at Matthews, NC.

Born into an Army family on December 12, 1953, in Washington, D.C., Kristina lived in eight different locales, spanning three continents, during the first 15 years of her life. She was a voracious reader, inveterate traveler, talented athlete, and friend to all. Her father, Col. Dale J. Crittenberger, died in combat in 1969 while serving in Vietnam as a brigade commander; her mother, Mildred Kelleher ‘Pookie’ Crittenberger, raised the family’s eight children by herself thereafter, and died in 1980.

As a member of the second co-ed class in the history of the University of Virginia, Kristina earned a B.A. in Latin American Studies in 1975; an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University followed in 1977; she earned an M.S. in Library Sciences from Florida State University in 1979 and a Ph.D. in Library Sciences from Florida State University in 1992.

Dr. Brockmeier’s career in libraries began in 1979, where she served as a Reference Librarian and then a Director in the Chatham County (GA) public system. She moved to the college ranks in 1983, first as the Library Director at Armstrong State College and then at Clayton State College from 1987-1992 in the same capacity. While at Armstrong, Kristina funded a Faculty Teaching and Service Award as an expression of her lasting interest in the school’s faculty and students. Following her time at Clayton, Kristina served as a member of the Library Science faculty at the University of North Texas.

Kristina transitioned into independent schools in 1993, first serving as the Library Director at Greenhill School in Dallas; a year later she was promoted, in unprecedented fashion, to Assistant Headmaster, a post newly created to take advantage of her skills set. In this capacity, Kristina oversaw the recruitment and hiring of new faculty; coordinated the growth and improvement of the curriculum; and managed other duties as assigned by the Headmaster.

Doc Brock, as she was affectionately known at Providence Day, worked there for the past 14 years, and was instrumental in the growth and oversight of the school’s media services and in the planning and implementation of the school’s state of the art Thompson-Jones Library, completed in 2001. While at PDS, Kristina also served as the 9th grade and Beta Club advisor, was a member of the Academic Council, started the field hockey program, earned her International Scholars certificate, and taught hundreds of students about the major components of the modern library.
Survivors include her devoted husband of 30 years, Lance Grayson Brockmeier of Matthews and her beloved sons, Nicholas Grayson Brockmeier, 22, and Scott Sullivan Brockmeier, 19.

A celebration of Kristina’s life, followed by a reception, was held on Sunday, October 18, at Providence Day School’s Mosack Athletic Center. The Brockmeier family asks that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made in memory of Dr. Kristina Brockmeier to Providence Day School, 5800 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270.

Online condolences and remembrances may be left and read at http://pdsblogs.org/drbrockmeier/.