News
Taking a Walk Down Memory Lane to Remember Bill Kellagher and His Namesake William “Bill” Kellagher ’90 was a Holy Family student unlike many others. Before officially enrolling in the University, Kellagher became a popular figure on campus, attending all of the Philosophy and English classes, studying in the library or outside during nice weather, and treating students to lunch or coffee. His rich connection to the campus community encouraged him to register for classes in his golden years, after retiring from a career in manufacturing and serving in the US Marines during World War II. Both he and his wife, Helen Kellagher, attended Holy Family University together from
Steve “Schmitty” Schmidt ’90
1970 to 1974. After Helen passed, Kellagher became a perpetual student. In 1987, he began working on his second degree as a Humanities major—50 years after graduating from La Salle University in 1937 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Philosophy. Unfortunately, he passed away the summer before graduation, and he was posthumously awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities in 1990. Given that he was a friend to everyone who knew him, the Class of 1990 raised money to provide benches, signs, and a memorial plaque. They dedicated the Kellagher Walk, marked today by a stone plaque with his image and a flowerbed on the walkway on Stevenson Lane between Shepherd’s Fold and the entrance to the Nurse Education Building. The Kellagher Walk celebrated its 30-year anniversary on April 30, 2020 and the Class of 1990 will celebrate its 30-year reunion on October 2, 2020 during Alumni Weekend. “The Class of 1990 went all out to remember Bill Kellagher, because he was truly someone we could never forget,” said Class President Steve Schmidt ’90 (fondly known
William “Bill” Kellagher ’90
as Schmitty), who spearheaded the Kellagher Walk initiative. Kellagher was such a revered member of the community, the 1990 yearbook was dedicated to him and it also named him an Outstanding Senior for Extraordinary Perseverance. The first Bill Kellagher Scholarship was created and awarded in 1991. “We’re so proud that Dad’s memory lives on as part of the campus community,” said Fran (Kellagher) Horn ’65. “Nothing would have made him prouder than to help bright minds thrive and shine at Holy Family University.” Fran’s siblings, Mary Ellen Haisfield-Wolfe, Kathy Kellagher and William (Bill) Kellagher, are proud to pay tribute to their father’s memory and his eternal pursuit of education.
Alumni Educators and HFU Faculty Earn Lindback Awards Two Holy Family School of Education alumni, Terese Gallen M’11 and Christine Jordan M’09, have been named recipients of the 2020 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. The awards are presented annually by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation to honor 60 outstanding teachers from Philadelphia public schools who demonstrate excellence in promoting learning at the highest levels Pamela Flynn, MFA, Professor of Art and Coordinator of Fine Arts, was bestowed the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, presented once every three years by the University to one faculty member for demonstrated excellence in teaching students.
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From left to right: Christine Jordan M’09, Terese Gallen M’11, and Pamela Flynn, MFA
SUMMER / 2020
