The graduate student conference on communication went on as scheduled, despite the recent death of the University of Oklahoma Department of Communication's chair.

Michael Pfau, professor and chair of the department since 2001, died Thursday after a brief illness. Faculty and students, although grieving the loss, said Pfau would have wanted the student-run conference to take place.

"I know he wanted us to continue with this, and the faculty was very supportive of have this despite our loss," communication graduate student Shawn Snidow said Saturday at the Sooner Communication Conference.

The conference participants observed a moment of silence at lunch Saturday to honor Pfau.

Communication professor Dan O'Hair said it's been a struggle to move forward in the department.

"He was deeply loved and respected, and coming at such ... short notice it was pretty much a shock for all of us," he said.

There will be a memorial service for Pfau in Norman within the next month or two, but no definite plans have been made yet, O'Hair said.

Funeral services will be Wednesday in Bloomington, Minn., where Pfau's family lives. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Ginger Nelson Pfau; son, Michael and wife Amanda and grandchildren, Anika and Callan; daughter, Julie Pfau; and sisters Shirlene Merrill and Kelly Kuehn.

Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com