Alumni can show their continuing support for Benedictine by donating to one
of our named endowments. These endowments are used to perpetually fund initiatives
that enhance the mission of the University and to provide financial support
for students. Donating to these endowments is a way to say thank you to someone
who had a significant impact on your college experience.
Friends and family of the individuals listed below have established endowments
in their honor. Benedictine is grateful for all gifts made in the names of those
who have done so much for the University.
Donations may be made online, by mail or by phone. Should you choose to donate
online, please enter the name of the endowment in the Donor Information section
of the form as shown here:
Dr. Richard and Lynn Becker
Dr. Richard Becker and his wife Lynn served as president and first lady of
Illinois Benedictine College from 1976 to 1995. During his presidency the
College nearly doubled its enrollment from 1,400 to 2,700 undergraduate and
graduate students. Joseph F. Kindlon, chairman of the Board of Trustees at
that time said, “Dr. Becker’s presidency crystallizes the realization
of the modern, comprehensive college. His legacy will be a defining moment
in the history of Illinois Benedictine College.”
Dr. Luz and Malcolm Berd
Dr. Rose Carney
Dr. Rose Carney became the first lay faculty member, and the first female
faculty member, of then St. Procopius College in 1948. Dr. Carney was Professor
of Physics and Mathematics, served as head of the Mathematics Department for
21 years and Chairman of the Natural Sciences Division for 11 years. She also
worked at Argonne National Laboratory as a Research Associate for 10 summers
and was a member of Women and Mathematics (WAM). Dr. Carney retired from
Benedictine in 1990. Many alumni, upon hearing of Dr. Carney’s passing
in 2007, sent an outpouring of love, memories and condolences. Read them here.
Dr. Norman A. Frigerio
Dr. James Hazdra
Revs. Edmund and Hilary Jurica O.S.B.
Father Hilary Jurica, O.S.B. was born in Slovakia on June 19, 1892. The family
moved to the United States where his brother, Fr, Edmund, was born on July
16, 1900. In many ways, it is hard to talk about Fr. Edmund or Fr. Hilary
separately as they worked together for so many years, sharing common goals
of excellence for the school and their students. For over forty years Fr.
Hilary and Fr. Edmund worked to develop the biology department at St. Procopius
College. The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
at Benedictine University honors their memory.
Harold and Louise Kittel
This endowment was established in memory of the parents of Dr. Phyllis Kittel.
Dr. Kittle joined the mathematics faculty in 1971. During her tenure at Benedictine
she served as Department Chair, Associate Academic Dean, Academic Dean and
Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Kittel held the position of Assisstant
to the President when she retired in 2000.
Anthony L. LaScala
Bernardine M. Lanser
Dr. David J. Rausch
During his forty-year tenure at the University, Dr. Rausch taught the
yearlong organic chemistry class to biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and
health science students. He introduced novel microscale laboratory techniques
in 1988 to the organic chemistry laboratories: the first college in the State
of Illinois to do so and one of the first in the nation. He directed more
than 75 student theses with support from NSF, AMOCO-BP and Argonne.
Rausch Endowment Website
Dr. Margarete Roth
Scarlato Family
Rev. Richard Shonka, O.S.B.
Instrumental in establishing the University's first computer center in 1970,
Fr. Richard published a handbook for his classes entitled "Introduction
to Programming with BASIC". His energy, good humor and genuine concern
for those he taught were recognized by the conferral of Illinois Benedictine
College's Distinguished Educator Award in 1972. His teaching career ended
in 1987, and he passed away in 1990 at the age of 87.
Father Cyprian Tomecko
Dr. Bernard Toussaint
Rev. Paul Tsi
Father Paul Tsi was a mathematics faculty member at Benedictine University
for 34 years. Father Tsi came to St. Procopius College in 1953 to take courses
for two years; he then went on to the University of Chicago where he studied
for five years. He returned to St. Procopius College as a faculty member in
1959. Father Tsi left the classroom after the spring of 1991 and passed away
in 1995.
