Former Superintendent Dianne Talarico Dies

Just months after her January retirement, former Burlingame superintendent Dianne Talarico died Tuesday after a fight with cancer.

"I'm sure that everyone in the community is deeply saddened by her passing," said Burlingame School Board President Mark Intrieri. "She was was a great person personally and professionally, she was a great asset to the district, she was an advocate for kids, she was just a wonderful, wonderful person."

Talarico served as superintendent for two and a half years, but was forced into early retirement due to illness. After her retirement, Jud Kempson stepped in as interim superintendent.

“She’ll be thoroughly missed,” Kempson said at the time. “She is much loved in the community and the schools.”

Talarico became BSD superintendent on July 1, 2008. Before coming to Burlingame, she acted as superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu and Canton, Ohio school districts.

After earning a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in educational administration from San Francisco State University, Talarico began her foray into education as a special education teacher in Ohio. She then spent close to 20 years at the San Francisco Unified School District. She additionally served as principal of the American Overseas School in Rome for a year and taught child development at San Francisco State University.

Talarico’s death comes just a week after the district hired Maggie MacIsaac as the new superintendent.

At the same meeting where MacIsaac was introduced, Talarico’s retirement was officially recognized during a touching farewell.

“Because of her open heart, all who are privileged to know Dianne know all parts of her. It truly is a gift to know Dianne,” said Kempson.  “She is such a part of us and we hope we of her. We are so much better for having been with her for that precious time than we would have ever been without her.”

Talarico’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in her name are sent to the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation.