Dear Team,

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Amanda McKee’s mother, Rebecca J. (Derda) McKee, on April 12, 2025. Let us come together to extend our condolences to Amanda and her family, and continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Visitation will be held from 4:00pm – 8:00pm with recitation of the rosary at 7:00pm, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Palmer Funeral Home – Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Rd., South Bend, IN 46635. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00am, Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 219 S. State St., Niles, MI 49120. Entombment will immediately follow at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, IN.

To read the full obituary, please click here.

We hope you can join us on March 17th for lunch in Foley’s after the Blueprint Meeting! Lunch will be available starting at 11:30am and will conclude by 1pm.

The Irish-themed lunch, will include:

• Irish Stew
• Corned Beef Sliders
• Shepard’s Pie
• Seafood Chowder
• Steamed Red Potatoes with Parsley
• Grilled vegetables
• Irish soda bread
• plus some excellent desserts

If you have any questions, please reach out to Lana Taylor or Iliana Contreras.

It is with heartfelt sadness that I share the news of the passing of Alex Servin’s brother, Adam Jesus Servin “A.J.”.  Please keep Alex and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very sad time.

A visitation will take place Saturday, February 15, from 1-7 p.m. central time at the Elmwood Chapel Funeral Home in Chicago.  

Adam’s obituary can be found here.  Alex, we are sorry for you and your family’s loss.

Dear Colleagues,

The first spring renewal mailing (renew #1) dropped in mailboxes on Friday, February 7, to our unrestricted and giving society benefactors. As a reminder, this mailing is sent to all assigned and unassigned benefactors whose annual giving is less than $25,000, asking them to renew their previous calendar year gift by their respective fund owner. This mailing was sent to over 10,000 households and will be followed by an email reminder this week. If you have any questions regarding our renewal strategy, please reach out to the appropriate fund (Sorin, Rockne, Law, etc.) owner on the annual giving team, and they will assist you.

Thanks!
Annual Giving Team

Please be courteous to your colleagues by booking your hot desk when you are in the office. If you do not reserve the space where you are seated and the individual who has booked the space arrives, they can ask you to find a new work space. As a reminder, you can access Tango Reserve a few different ways  — go.nd.edu/ndrtango or via the Tango Reserve by AgilQuest mobile app. The full set of instructions can be found here. Please contact Patty Kokesh with any questions.

The Office of Gift Planning will be closed this Friday, January 17 in recognition of our team’s work during the year end!

After sixteen years of dedicated service to Notre Dame Development, our friend and colleague Dawn McGrath has made the tough decision to retire from ND. Over the years, Dawn has played a critical role in our team’s success and has formed valuable relationships across campus and with many of our largest benefactors. Dawn started in Gift Planning and partnered on the inception of numerous initiatives (Gift Planning Advancement Committee, Love Thee Notre Dame, and Provost Leadership Group to name a few), worked through three campaigns, and has managed the seating of the President’s Suite since 2017 – all ultimately helping to advance the Notre Dame mission. I am personally grateful for her partnership over the past three years. Dawn has provided critical support to Stu, me, and our donors. Dawn’s last day in the office will be January 23, 2025. Please join me in offering her our heartfelt thanks and blessings as she embarks on the next chapter of her journey: spending quality time with her 90-year-old mom, and focusing on their kids and ten grandkids, in southern Indiana!