Maria Cardinale Rankine

(1958-2009)

Maria Cardinale Rankine, Alpha Chi, Georgetown College, was one of the founding members of the European Alumnae Chapter. Through commitment, creativity and connectivity she ignited the spirit of sisterhood in Europe.  From the inception of the chapter in 1997, she served as the vice president of membership, president, historian, secretary and annual meeting organizer.  Under her leadership, the chapter tapped into technology to connect sisters and enable sisters to re-connect with Sigma Kappa.  Her drive and passion showed us all what is possible for alumnae chapters and brought sisterhood to life again for countless alumnae members of Sigma Kappa. 

In her professional life, Maria was a quality assurance certification specialist with the British Standards Institute.  She worked with companies across the United Kingdom to assess and assist with their ISO 9000-series quality management certification, and most recently worked with legal offices throughout Southeast England.  She was known for her professional, no-nonsense style and was widely respected and appreciated by her clients.

Maria had a passion for travel and opera. She was a supporter of the English National Opera, for whom she helped to organize and promote the American Friends of the ENO evenings in London and the Les Azuriales chamber-opera festival in the south of France. 

Maria touched the lives of so many Sigma Kappas throughout Europe and the U.S. In the words of her husband Angus: “Her love of life lit up the lives of those who knew her.”

Donations can be made in Maria’s memory to Royal Marsden Cancer Research, at www.justgiving.com/mariagrace.