9:00 a.m., Nov. 12, 2008--Elaine Marie Stotko, 54, former senior assistant dean in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, died Oct. 16, after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

Ms. Stotko, of Columbia, Md., and formerly of Newark, Del., was born in Rapid City, S.D. In 1965 her U.S. Air Force family settled in Bossier City, La., where she attended Parkway High School, graduating as valedictorian.

A 1975 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University, with a bachelor's degree in French, Dr. Stotko earned a master's degree in English as a second language from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne, in 1977. In 1992, Dr. Stotko received her doctorate in linguistics from the University of Delaware, where she also worked for 16 years.

For the last eight years, Dr. Stotko served as chairperson of the Department of Teacher Preparation at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. Her research interests included the impact of teacher education on teacher quality, linguistics for teachers and children's understanding of language. A respected author in the field of linguistics, Dr. Stotko made many contributions to the profession.

Dr. Stotko enjoyed playing old time and blue grass music on her bass fiddle, singing, Tai Chi, gardening, bookbinding, and traveling. Her sharp wit, generous heart and acceptance of all people earned Dr. Stotko many dear friends who stood by her and comforted her through her illness, with excellent food, good company and laughter.

Dr. Stotko is survived by her husband of 13 years, Eric T. Jacobson; son, Adrian Q. Quintero of Baltimore; stepdaughter, Jessica L. Jacobson of Millersville, Pa.; brother, Edward Stotko of Port Deposit, Md.; and sister, Lori Stotko of Half Moon Bay, Calif. She also is survived by her parents, CP (Ski), and Arline Stotko, of Bossier City, La.

There will be an opportunity for family, friends and colleagues to share reflections and memories of Elaine at a memorial service to be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Bunting-Meyerhoff Interfaith Center at the southeast corner of North Charles Street and East University Parkway (across from the Johns Hopkins University campus), in Baltimore. A reception will be held at 3 p.m., at the College of Education Building at 2800 N. Charles St. A parking lot is adjacent to the building.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First Unitarian Church, Music Program, 730 Halstead Road, Wilmington, DE 19803; and/or Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care, 555 West Towsontown Blvd., Towson, MD, 21204

For more information, call (410) 261-1880 or visit [www.jhu.edu/~chaplain/AboutIFC.shtml] or [http://education.jhu.edu/campuses/Homewood/directions].