Sandra “Sandy” (Ott) Herzinger, 78, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln employee for 38 years, died July 8.
Herzinger was born Aug. 14, 1939 in Lincoln and was the only child of John and Mabel Ott. She grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957. Her marriage to Morelle Herzinger in 1960 spanned 50 years, until her husband died in 2011.
Herzinger earned a Bachelor of Arts from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master of Arts in library science from the University of Illinois.
She began her professional career in 1961, starting as a junior librarian at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Love Library. After graduate school, she returned to Nebraska to work fulltime in campus libraries.
Herzinger was named chair of the University Libraries’ cataloging department in 1979. Her many accomplishments included overseeing a multiple year conversion of the library catalog from paper to digital format.
She received the University Libraries Staff Excellence Award in 1994, was promoted to full professor in 1995, and served many years on the faculty senate. She retired from UNL in 2003. In 2014, she was awarded the inaugural Sandra Herzinger Award for Technical Services Advocacy for her lifelong dedication.
Herzinger traveled extensively throughout her life, visiting all 50 of the United States and many foreign countries. She was an avid reader with a particular fondness for mystery novels. And served as an active member of Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln.
She also enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter, Elena; baking cinnamon rolls; assembling puzzles; and watching her perform on stage.
Herzinger is survived by her son, Craig, of Lincoln; son, Kurt, daughter-in-law, Brenda, and granddaughter, Elena, all of Colorado Springs; and several nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Services are 10 a.m. July 12 at Christ United Methodist Church, 4530 A St. The family requests memorials to the church. Condolences may be left online.
