In Memoriam: Denise M. Berilla

Article by UDaily staff Photo courtesy of the Berilla famliy April 22, 2021

Campus community remembers long-time administrator

Editor's note: This article was updated May 7, 2021, with information about the celebration of Ms. Berilla's life to be held May 22.

Denise M. (Soukup) Berilla of Lewes, Delaware, who held administrative positions in the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering and College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, died peacefully in her sleep on April 19. She was 71.

Denise Berilla

In 1987, Ms. Berilla began working at the University of Delaware, first as manager of operations in chemical engineering for more than 10 years. After taking a position at Rutgers University, she returned to UD in 2005 to become a manager in marine studies. In 2009, she was promoted to assistant dean of the then-College of Marine and Earth Studies. She retired from UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in 2012. Her family said she loved her work and the people she worked with at UD and Rutgers.

Ms. Berilla’s family has many UD connections. Her husband, David, was associate director in Career Services for 20 years, and both their daughters are alumnae: Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, and Jennifer Egan earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology and her Ph.D. in water science and policy and is now an adjunct faculty member in UD’s Department of Applied Economics and Statistics.

Born in Maynard, Ohio, Ms. Berilla earned a bachelor of science in home economics from the Ohio State University. She and David married in 1970, and Ms. Berilla focused on being a mother and making a home. Her family describes her as “one of the world’s first foodies,” with a love of world cuisine and sharing her talent for cooking with friends and family. She was also well known for her love of flowers and plants.

In addition to her husband and two daughters, she is survived by six grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will be held at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 401 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, at 11 a.m., May 22. The service will also be live-streamed at that time at stedmond.org.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Edmond Society of St. Vincent De Paul, P.O. Box 646, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971-0646.

To read the full obituary or leave condolences, visit her memorial webpage at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.