In Memoriam: Pamela (Pam) Monn

Pamela (Pam) Monn, of Belchertown, director of grounds and events for Facilities and Campus Services (FCS), died Aug. 21 following a battle with a rare sarcoma.

"Pam's impact during her 28 years working at UMass would be impossible to measure," said Shane Conklin, associate vice chancellor of FCS, in an email to FCS personnel announcing her passing. "She filled many roles in Facilities & Campus Services and positively impacted countless lives across the entire campus community along the way. Her hard work, positive attitude, and dedication to her job, co-workers, and staff were manifest in everything she did, and it showed around campus. She will be deeply missed."

A complete obituary, published by the Daily Hampshire Gazette, can be found below.

A celebration of Monn's life is planned for 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, at Belchertown United Church of Christ, located at 20 Park St. All are welcome and are asked to wear their work clothes, with bright, celebratory colors and baseball caps encouraged. In lieu of gifts, it is asked that donations in Monn's honor may be made to the Animal Welfare Society of Kennebunk, Maine.

Pamela Sue Monn died from a rare sarcoma on August 21, 2025 after two days of superlative hospice care at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, MA. She grew up in Mont Alto, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her wife and the love of her life, Rev. Janet Powers of Belchertown, MA, their son, Dr. Jordan Miller of Danielson, CT, and her dogs. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Norma. She is also survived by her sisters, Jenny and Teresa from Pennsylvania, and a broad circle of dear friends. Her grandmothers, Gladys and Rosalie, provided the nurturing environment that shaped the woman she became.

Pam was a graduate of Penn State, State College, and Wesley Theological Seminary, and was an ordained clergy-woman. Immersion work trips to Mexico and western Maryland broadened her worldview as she became increasingly committed to acts of mercy and care for the least, the last, and the lost. She delivered meals to people dying during the AIDS crisis. She was a minister with and to the working-class laborers at UMass for the last 28 years. She was a prolific quilter and a creative maker of many things.

Pam cared deeply for abandoned, abused, or neglected animals. In lieu of all gifts, donations in her honor may be made to the Animal Welfare Society of Kennebunk, ME (https://animalwelfaresociety.org). There will be a celebration of her life at 3pm on Monday, September 22, 2025 at Belchertown United Church of Christ. People of any or no faith are welcome. Please come in your work clothes. Bright, celebratory colors, and baseball caps are encouraged.