Faculty Member Mourned

By Mallory Miller and Matthew Rupel

William Donnelly didn't just have a job, or even a simple career. He had a calling.

The resident Jesuit and teacher at Santa Clara dedicated his life to education,and he taught hundreds of students in his half-century as a teacher.

"He was very authentic," said senior Bobby Nguyen. The reverend was Nguyen's first teacher at Santa Clara, and his first introduction to Jesuit teaching. "He only used the phone and office appointments; he didn't let technology distract him."

William Donnelly, S.J., died peacefully in his sleep last week. He was 84 years old and had been part of the Santa Clara community since he enrolled in the university in 1945.

As a longstanding member of the Jesuit community, Donnelly had developed strong friendships with the others he lived with. Charles Phipps, S.J., described them as a family. The two would spend weekends together gardening at the Jesuit house.

"Every spring he would buy a lot of daphodils and tulips, and he would take care of the roses," said Phipps.

Donnelly loved his work in the field of economics and was recently conducting research on exports of American motion pictures, international trade, and offshore financial centers.

Donnelly was known for bringing his outside experience from his many travels into the classroom. Catherine Millmann had Donnelly as an academic advisor, and she said his teaching was the reason she chose her major.

"He would always tell me about his amazing adventures abroad, and he was my number one advocate of me going abroad," said Millman.

Nguyen also said that Donnelly's experience in the field contributed to his teaching style. "He didn't use vague theoretical concepts," he said, "he always used specific references in his teaching and current events."

Donnelly joined the Santa Clara faculty in 1969, filling many roles in his 43-year tenure, including a lecturer, academic vice president rector of the Jesuit community at Santa Clara and most recently serving as chaplain for the Catala club since 1993.

A vigil has been planned for Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Mission Church, followed by the memorial service at 7:30 p.m. A reception will be held in the de Saisset Museum following the event.

Millmann expressed her sadness in returning to Santa Clara, as she is currently studying in Freiburg, Germany.

"It's going to be weird coming back to Santa Clara. I'm going to miss him," she said.

He is survived by nieces Dianne (Mark) Bonino of San Carlos, Cathy Donnelly McAvoy of San Jose, and nephews Tim Donnelly of South Korea and Terry (Niki) Donnelly of Meridian, Idaho, as well as many grandnieces, grandnewphews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother Thomas E. (Ted) Donnelly and his nephew Thomas Donnelly.

Contact Mallory Miller at memiller@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4948.