Lula Enid Barr Cosgriff, prominent Utah philanthropist, civic leader and purveyor of fine arts in the state, died Saturday, Jan. 4, at her home in Salt Lake City. She was 84.
Mrs. Cosgriff was married to Walter E. Cosgriff in 1937, who served as president of Continental Bank and Trust until his untimely death in 1961 from an automobile accident.During those years, Mrs. Cos-griff was active in volunteer work and in the early 1950s founded the Ballet Society, which supported the newly organized ballet department at the University of Utah.
This organization was a precursor to the Utah Civic Ballet, which is now known as Ballet West. She also devoted energy to the renovation of Holy Cross Hospital.
At the death of her husband, Mrs. Cosgriff served as president and general manager of the Salt Lake Bees Triple-A baseball team and was recognized as the first woman in professional baseball to hold such a position. She also served as a director of Continental Bank, which after a series of acquisitions and name changes is now known as U.S. Bank.
In 1988, Mrs. Cosgriff received one of the highest honors from the Catholic Church when Pope John Paul II invested her as a Lady of the Holy Sepulchre. The honor was celebrated by Bishop William K. Weigand in a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
Two years later, Mrs. Cosgriff donated almost $200,000 for seismic restoration efforts to earthquake-proof the cathedral. She also served on the committee establishing the Catholic Foundation of Utah and was active in the Catholic Women's League and Catholic Community Services.
A requiem Mass will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, at noon at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E. South Temple. A vigil service will be Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the cathedral. Interment is at Mount Calvary Cemetery. The family suggests donations be made to the Cathedral of the Madeleine Good Samaritan Project.