SAINT JOHN’S MAGAZINE
is the alumni magazine of Saint John’s University. It is published twice a year, in the spring and fall, by the SJU Office of Institutional Advancement.
EDITOR Dave DeLand ddeland@csbsju.edu 320-363-3013
CREATIVE DIRECTION AND DESIGN Lori Gnahn
CONTRIBUTORS Margaret Arnold Jessie Bazan SOT ’17 Raj Chaphulkar ’08 Rob Culligan ’82 Dana Drazenovich Megan Glady Evens ’05 Mike Killeen Ryan Klinkner ’04 Joram Manka Eric Schubert ’92
PHOTOGRAPHY Jen McNelly ’20 Thomas O’Laughlin ’13
12 Features SJU prepared McDonough for a life of service and success P. 12 The nervous kid who showed up in Collegeville 30 years ago just hoping to make the football team went on to become White House chief of staff. Now, fortified by the faith and friendships he made at Saint John’s, Denis McDonough ’92 has his sights set on even greater accomplishments in public and global service.
Readers share life’s joys with Father Don P. 20
Devoted followers arise every single morning to the faith, guidance, gratitude and encouragement that define the daily reflections of Fr. Don Talafous, OSB. Those reflections have become the hallmark of Fr. Don’s 75-year legacy at Saint John’s, a legacy he continues to build upon with each passing day, interaction and inspirational message.
Mushatt’s passion is all about helping kids P. 28
Former Saint John’s football All-American Brett Mushatt ’98 became a police officer four years after graduating with a social work degree, and brought his passion for helping kids with him. The St. Cloud Police Department commander devotes time and energy to the Police Activities League, which enriches lives and builds bridges between families and officers.
UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST Peggy Landwehr Roske ’77
EDITOR EMERITUS † Lee A. Hanley ’58
ADDRESS CHANGES Ruth Athmann Saint John’s University P.O. Box 7222 Collegeville, MN 56321 rathmann@csbsju.edu
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