Patricia Diane Cummisford

Patricia Diane Cummisford

Patricia "Diane" Cummisford passed away Sunday, January 4, 2026 at age 91.

Diane was an interesting person with an inquisitive, determined mind. She brought a reflective approach to situations and used deductive and inductive reasoning, creative problem solving, and the scientific method to achieve success throughout her career. Diane realized problems offered opportunities and took the initiative to make positive changes in the world.

Diane was born March 5, 1934 in Elgin, Illinois and was raised in nearby Arlington Heights by her father after her mother's untimely death when Diane was only 10. She and her brother "Bob", who was 18 months younger, shared analytical personalities and both pursued degrees and careers in the sciences.

As a high school senior, Diane was one of 40 Finalists in the 1951 Westinghouse Science Talent Search and met President Harry Truman during an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC. Finalists were selected nationwide from an initial group of three hundred high school seniors identified as having unusual potential scientific ability and tapped for the scholarship competition.

Diane received her B. S. in Food and Nutrition and Related Sciences from Iowa State University in 1955 and her M.S. in Foods and Nutrition from Michigan State University in 1957. She held a National Science Foundation Fellowship from 1955 - 1958, a University of Illinois Fellowship from 1958 - 1960, and was an Instructor in Foods and Nutrition at Iowa State University from 1960 - 1961.

Diane joined General Mills Inc. as a Research Scientist in 1961, where she developed 3 patented processes (assigned to General Mills): Method of Preparing Puffed Cereal Product U.S. No. 3464828 (9-2-69) Cl. 99-82; Soy Food Product U.S. No. 3627537 (12-14-71) Cl. 99-88); Double Expanded Food Products U.S. No. 3703379 (11-21-72) Cl. 99-81.000.

Diane was the named-plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed in 1978 against General Mills concerning failure to pay and promote women. Diane continued her employment at General Mills until 1980. The case was settled with approval of the Court in 1986, and included 83 eligible class members.

Diane was one of 8 organizers of Les Soeurs, an action-support group formed in 1978 for persons experiencing employment discrimination. In 1980, she was one of 50 founders of Minnesota Women's Consortium, a coalition of 167 diverse member organizations supporting equality for women and providing information to educate and activate citizens and public policy makers.

During the 1980 - 1981 Minnesota legislative session, Diane proposed, testified, and argued changes to the Minnesota Human Rights Act to provide direct action in Court (bypass agency process) and provide monetary damages for mental pain and anguish, recognizing damages are not only lost pay. Emotional damages were not recognized in Title VII of the parallel Federal law until 1991.

Diane received her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in 1983. Under student practice rules, she served as an attorney in 1982 - 1983 with Hamline Law School Public Interest Advocacy Clinic, representing the University of Minnesota Faculty Advisory Committee for Women, which assisted faculty making discrimination claims at the University of Minnesota.

Diane practiced as a Licensed Attorney in Minnesota focusing on employee rights representation from 1983 - 2008 and served as an Enforcement Officer with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights from 1984 - 1985.

During the 1983 - 1984 legislative session, Diane argued change to the Minnesota Human Rights Act to require compensatory damages up to three times the actual damages based on an analogy to antitrust law with the employer being the powerful economic force controlling the job marketplace. The law has not been overturned or deemed unconstitutional.

During 1994 and 1995 she volunteered problem identification solution strategies and understanding of agency legislative and judicial processes to Workplace Justice Committee, a group affiliated with the Minnesota Women's Consortium. Diane generated 4 of 9 Action steps concerning work included in the 1994 - 1995 Minnesota Women's Economic Action Plan of the Consortium.

Diane later worked for the U.S. Census Bureau, surveying in the state of Minnesota during the regular Census then extending her tenure working on a variety of special survey projects.

Diane was a formidable person with a playful and giving spirit. "Aunt Diane" delighted in sending her large extended family "Birthday Boxes" with cake mix, frosting, candles, and other treats. She knew the best deals on shipping these boxes, which were packed efficiently using unboxed bags of General Mills puffed breakfast cereal (one of her patents) to cushion and fill empty spaces.

Aunt Diane drove several times a year to visit family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her 1980's era car stuffed with goodie bags to be distributed meticulously once she arrived. Her family will remember her fondly as an impressive and inquisitive role model who lived life on her own terms.

Diane is survived by her sister-in-law Eleanor Cummisford, 4 nieces/nephews (and 4 spouses), 13 grand nieces/nephews (and 6 spouses), 7 great-grand nieces/nephews, and a community of neighbors and friends. Diane was preceded in death by her infant sister Lois Gene Cummisford (1932), mother Mildred Phroso Warren Cummisford (1944), father Raymond Glen Cummisford (1989), niece Elizabeth Cummisford (2015), grand niece Melanie Plichta (2016), and brother Robert "Bob" Cummisford (2020).

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Plymouth Congregational Church (1919 La Salle Ave., Minneapolis MN), where Diane was a member since 1961, followed by a reception and fellowship. Interment will be at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at a later date.

Memorial donations in honor of Patricia "Diane" Cummisford can be made to Plymouth Congregational Church.

life story

1951 Westinghouse Science Talent Search Finalist

Three hundred male and female high school seniors were identified as having unusual potential scientific ability and awarded honors in the 10th Annual Science Talent Search in 1951, including Patricia "Diane" Cummisford.

Ten female students and 30 male students (proportionally determined by the ratio of the initial 300 students) were named as Finalists and invited to an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC to attend the Science Talent Institute where they competed for college scholarships.

Diane was the sole Finalist from the state of Illinois, and is pictured here at the National Ordnance Lab.

memorial service

Funeral Service for Patricia "Diane" Cummisford

March 21, 2026

Plymouth Congregational Church 1919 La Salle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA