Diane Drufenbrock
American Franciscan Sister, academic and politician (1929–2013)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diane Joyce Drufenbrock, S.S.S.F. (October 7, 1929 – November 4, 2013),[1] also known as Sister Madeleine Sophie, was an American Religious Sister as a member of the Catholic School Sisters of St. Francis. She was a Christian socialist who was the vice-presidential candidate for the Socialist Party USA in the 1980 United States presidential election.[2]
- Alverno College - Mathematics
- Marquette University - Mathematics
Sister Diane Drufenbrock, S.S.S.F. | |
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Drufenbrock in 1980 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 7, 1929 Evansville, Indiana, United States |
| Died | November 4, 2013 (aged 84) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Party | Socialist Party USA |
| Education |
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| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Religious Sister and Professor |
Biography
Drufenbrock was born in Evansville, Indiana, the daughter of a plumber.[3] In 1948, after graduating from Reitz Memorial High School, she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to enter the School Sisters of St. Francis, a religious congregation of Franciscan Sisters dedicated to education. She went on to earn various degrees in mathematics as a graduate of Alverno College in 1953[4] and of Marquette University.[5] She then taught mathematics at Alverno College, at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, and elsewhere around Milwaukee, including at the then-new St. Joseph High School (Kenosha) when it opened in September 1957. Drufenbrock gained a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1963. After teaching for 13 years at Alverno College, she taught at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in her native Indiana for 18 years.[6]
Dufenbrock started to work in community affairs while teaching at the school. She worked for the Milwaukee Tenant's Union and was a director of the Wisconsin branch of Project Equality to campaign for equal opportunities for women, disabled and ethnic minorities in work.[3]
Her interest in social issues and changes within the Catholic Church led her to join the Socialist Party USA in 1976 after meeting Frank Zeidler.[3] She ran as their vice-presidential candidate in the 1980 United States presidential election,[7] and served as that party's National Treasurer from 1977.[8] That campaign resulted in the Party's recognition by the Federal Election Commission as a national political party.[7]
Death
Drufenbrock died on November 4, 2013, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1]