For the past 15 years, Diana Bartholomew served as the unofficial greeter to visitors who stopped by the Human Resources offices in the CLA tower. She was the welcoming smile, the giver of encouraging words and the mentor who supported fellow staffers in the department.

Bartholomew, who worked at Cal Poly Pomona for more than 30 years and was known for her enthusiasm, humor and organizational skills, died July 17 after a battle with cancer. She was 71.

"She was such a pleasure to work with," said Sharon Reiter, associate vice president of Human Resource Services. "She loved working at Cal Poly Pomona. She was the front counter face of Human Resources."

She also loved to garden and would keep her coworkers supplied with fruits and vegetables, Reiter added.

Bartholomew began working on campus in 1988 as an administrative support coordinator in Human Resources. She was promoted numerous times and worked in all areas of the department including employment, classification and compensation, benefits, employee relations and customer service. She retired in 2002 but returned to Human Resources shortly thereafter to work part-time. Bartholomew received a staff emeritus award in May.

Always willing to lend a hand, Bartholomew was involved with numerous university-wide activities, including Fall Conference, Staff Council and Founder's Day. She served as membership director on the board of Pace Setters, a group of retired faculty and staff.

Professor Emeritus Kathy Harcharik, president of Pace Setters, called Bartholomew "a real gem" who was always there to lend a hand.

"Diana was the ultimate professional," Harcharik said. "She took pride in all of the work she did, but on the other hand, she had a big heart. She would do all she could to help you."

A memorial celebration of Bartholomew's life is planned from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29 at Nature Retreat Park, 15886 Rincon Meadows Ave., Chino.