A memorial service for Dr. Barbara LaBossiere, professor of philosophy at Fresno State, will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 4, in the University Student Union, Room 309.
Dr. LaBossiere died April 21, announced Dr. Vincent F. Biondo III, chair of Fresno State’s Department of Philosophy, Religious Studies and the Pre-Law and Middle East Studies programs
Dr. LaBossiere joined the Fresno State faculty in 2005 as coordinator of the Applied Ethics Program, a position she held until 2009. Her research Interests were ethics, political philosophy, 18th century philosopher David Hume’s teachings and the philosophy of law.
At Fresno State, Dr. LaBossiere co-founded the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. She served on the Human Subjects Committee (2002-07) and was named Outstanding Adviser in 2007.
In 2008, she published a paper on tort liability and the 2005 Class Action Fairness Act in the journal Philosophy in the Contemporary World.
Dr. LaBossiere lost her father Robert I. Bender in 2010 and her brother Robert Bender II earlier this year. She is survived by her niece and nephew, Lauren Bender and Ethan Bender of Ohio.
She earned a doctorate in philosophy at Florida State University and a master’s at Ohio State University.
Fresno State President John D. Welty directed that university flags be lowered to half-staff on May 4 to honor the memory of Dr. LaBossiere and of Phillip Patiño, a Fresno educator and alumnus who founded the Sí Se Puede Hispanic Male Conference with University Outreach Services.
