MINNEAPOLIS - Communities across the Twin Cities are mourning the loss of a strong voice of philanthropy and advocacy, after the weekend death of Diane Sims Page.
Page, known for her generous giving through the Page Education Foundation, was also married to Minnesota Vikings great and former state Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. She passed Saturday at the age of 74 after battling breast cancer.
“Among her greatest gifts was her huge heart and ability to make everyone around her better than what they might otherwise have been,” read an obituary released by her family Tuesday. “She was a remarkable woman — and she did it all with a twinkle in her eye and a delight in the ironies and nuances of life.”
Under Diane Sims Page's leadership as executive director, the Page Education Foundation has provided more than 6,700 college scholarships totaling $14 million to students of color in Minnesota, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. In return for their awards, the scholarship recipients — known as Page Scholars — are required to mentor and tutor elementary and middle-school students in their communities.
“She really left no stone unturned to create a foundation that was unique in its mission,” said daughter Georgi Page-Smith. “Diane was very good at implementing and putting their plans in action.”
Sims Page was also a presence at the Minneapolis middle school that bears her husband's name. On Tuesday Justice Page Middle School Principal Erin Rathke sent a message home to students and their families, informing them of her passing.
Dear Justice Page Families and Community,
It is with a heavy heart I share with you that Diane Page, Justice Alan Page’s wife of more than 40 years, passed away this weekend. I am heartbroken. This is a deep loss for our school community as well as for the larger Minneapolis community.
I first met Diane as students at our school worked to change our name. What stood out to me was her natural and genuine leadership, as well as her commitment to education and providing students every opportunity to succeed. While our school is named for Alan Page, Diane was the quiet force behind the Justice. She continuously supported his work and cemented his legacy.
For those who didn’t know her, Diane was an advertising executive who went on to pioneer the field of focus-group moderation. Many of the procedures and rules she developed are still in use today. With her husband, she started the Page Education Foundation, which offers scholarships and encouragement to students of color facing incredible barriers to attaining their educational dreams.
The impact she had on our school community and countless others will be felt for years to come. We’re grateful to have shared in her story, and deeply saddened by her loss. I, personally, was so impacted by her. I will miss her at morning greeters and like many of you wish that I had another Friday morning with her. I will forever remember her blowing me kisses while standing on stage in the auditorium of the school named after her husband. She brightened every room she walked in.
