In Memoriam Coach Fitzgerald, 67, passes away Dan Fitzgerald, the basketball coach credited with building the foundation for Gonzaga’s hoops success, died in Spokane Jan. 19 from an apparent heart attack. He was 67. A fiery bench coach, he was a father-figure to many of his players, and a valued mentor to the assistant coaches he brought in. He hired Dan Monson, Mark Few and Bill Grier, who helped him develop a vision for what the Gonzaga basketball program has become. It was Fitz’s vision to develop a line of succession in the coaching ranks, and before he retired from coaching in 1997 he asked that Monson succeed him. Monson did the same with his top assistant, Mark Few. It is that consistency in coaching that many credit with the success of recent years. Fitz was an assistant at Gonzaga in 1973-75, left to work as an assistant to Carroll Williams at Santa Clara for three seasons, then returned to Gonzaga as head coach and athletic director in 1978. He stepped down from his coaching position in 1981 to devote full time to his duties as AD. But the lure of the game drew him back to the bench in 1985 as he succeeded Jay Hillock. Fitz was 252-171 during his Gonzaga coaching career and led Gonzaga to its first NCAA tournament in 1995. Dr. Hugh Keenan (’41) passed away Oct. 10 in Walla Walla, Wash. “Bud” was a champion debater. He received his medical degree from Marquette University in 1944.
Robert Johnson (’52 J.D.) passed away Sept. 7 in Olympia. After graduating from Gonzaga, Bob served in the Army. He practiced law with Herman, Johnson and Banta, LLC, in Millwood, Wash., for 19 years. Bob then worked for the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s Office as deputy insurance commissioner for 27 years. Jeremiah Buckley (’52, ’64 M.B.A.) passed away Dec. 1 in Spokane. He served in the Navy as a radioman first class in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Jerry worked for Washington Water Power for 36 years, retiring as its vice president for public affairs and corporate secretary. In 1961, Bishop Topel handpicked Jerry among others to spearhead the founding of St. Margaret’s Hall (now St. Margaret’s Shelter) for homeless women and children. Mae Asimus (’55) passed away Dec. 1 in Spokane. She belonged to several nursing associations and retired as a nurse practitioner for the Spokane County Health District. Catharine Elliston (’55) passed away Dec. 1 in Wenatchee, Wash. She attended Gonzaga in 1951-52 before entering nursing school. Catharine graduated as a registered nurse in 1955. She assisted the Wenatchee public health doctor, immunizing children in public schools in the 1960s and helped at the American Red Cross blood drawings each month. Joseph Brennan (’55 J.D.) passed away May 22 in Olympia, Wash. After high school, Joe worked for the Great Northern Railroad. He served in the Army beginning in 1943, with the military railway and in the European Theatre in WWII.
Perry Lorenzo (’80) passed away Dec. 19 in Seattle. He was an internationally acclaimed speaker on opera and was the director of education at Seattle Opera. Known as the “Opera Guy,” Perry worked with students in communities all over Washington. He wrote and produced a 75-minute adaptation of Mozart’s Magic Flute to bring opera to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Perry was director of the performance-oriented Young Artists Program at Seattle Opera. Helen Bartalamay (’81 M. Special Education ) passed away Sept. 26 in Texas. She worked for Central Valley School District in Spokane for 31 years. Joseph Pemberton (’82 J.D.) passed away Nov. 21 in Bellingham, Wash. Joe was a third generation attorney in Bellingham. His career was marked by a concern for justice for the disadvantaged, demonstrated by his founding the Volunteer Law Program (now “Law Advocates”). Joe received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award. Gail Sutton (’92 M.A. Counseling and ’02 M.A. Teaching) passed away Sept. 30 in Spokane. She was born and raised in the Inland Northwest and taught in California, Oregon and Washington. Herbert Carlson passed away Sept. 24 in Spokane. A former Gonzaga student, Herb received both the Bronze and Silver Stars while in the Army. He had a long and successful career with Standard Oil Company of California. John Manix passed away Nov. 27 in Spokane. This former
Edward Herbert Hambrook (’44) passed away Sept. 30. Herb attended Gonzaga on a basketball scholarship until enlisting in the Air Force. He was a teacher, coach and principal for 32 years. Paul Carlson (’45) passed away Nov. 10 in Glendale, Calif. He was a legendary diagnostician, revered surgeon and teacher. Paul served in the Army’s 24th Infantry Regiment in Korea and earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. He was a self-taught harmonica virtuoso, inventor of the Vari-Strad washtub bass and an avid supporter of the arts.
Chester Raun (’50) passed away Oct. 11 in Philadelphia. He served in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Raun was the cadet commanding officer of the first Army ROTC at Gonzaga and was one of the first distinguished military graduates to accept a direct appointment as a second lieutenant in the Army Officer Corps. He served in the Korean War. Dr. Daniel Aughney (’50) passed away Nov. 30 in Sonoma, Calif. He served in the Air Force and was stationed at Hamilton Field in 1955. Daniel opened his dental practice in Novato, Calif., in 1958. Robert Weber (’51) passed away Nov. 27 in Moscow, Idaho. He served in the Army from 1944-46 and was stationed on the Aleutian Islands where he was a clerk typist. After graduating from Gonzaga, he returned to the family farm in Uniontown, Wash. Stanley Fairhurst (’52, ‘55 M.A. Philosophy) passed away Jan. 23 in Lacey, Wash. Stan served as Gonzaga’s vice president for business and finance 1975-1987 and taught philosophy, business management and education classes from 1984-1997. He improved Gonzaga’s financial policies and procedures when the University was facing significant challenges. Stan was also responsible for the start of the offices of financial aid and human resources. William Bertrand (’52) passed away Sept. 30 in Billings, Mont. Bill served in the Army from 1952-54 in Korea and elsewhere. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, Council 1259, holding all offices through grand knight. Bill was also an officer in the Billings Bowling Association and was elected a member of the Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2000, his family was named Montana State Bowling Family of the Year.
Jennifer Raudebaugh
Hon. Stephen Reilly (’49 J.D.) passed away Nov. 8 on Mercer Island, Wash. He served in WWII as a bombardier in the Army Air Corps. Reilly worked as an assistant attorney general in the Department of Fish and Game and an attorney at the Walthew Law Firm. He was appointed to the King County Superior Court bench in 1977 where he served as judge until he retired in 1989.
Dr. Joseph Dobler (’66) passed away Sept. 10 in Gardnerville, Nev. He served as a chiropractor in the Lake Tahoe and Gardnerville areas until his retirement. Carol Flynn (’67) passed away Oct. 1 in Maui. She was a medical technologist, as well as the mother of five and grandmother to nine. She and her husband had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Mark Arthur (’73) passed away Oct. 15 in Kent, Wash. “Bogi” spent his childhood surfing and swimming daily with family and friends before attending Gonzaga. He became a life-long member of the “Vashon Gang.” Lois Gilchrist (’79) passed away Nov. 16 in Spokane. She was a devoted teacher at St. Aloysius Catholic School and an avid Gonzaga basketball fan. Thomas Brauer (’80 M. Human Resources) passed away Nov. 26 in Spokane. He joined the Air Force in 1959 as a medic and retired in 1986 and went to school to become a physician’s assistant. He was the father of five, grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of two.
Gonzaga student was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the American Legion, a skilled pool player and a devoted fan of Notre Dame football and Gonzaga Prep athletics. He achieved his college degree at age 75 after a professional life as an insurance sales manager and a veteran of the armed forces. Kenneth Ames, former dean of the School of Education, passed away Sept. 24 in St. Cloud, Minn. He worked at Gonzaga beginning in the late 1960s and served until 1974. William Niggemeyer passed away Jan. 14 in Spokane. He was a founding member of the Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media at Gonzaga. Bill was a lay Franciscan, the father of 10 (several of whom are GU alumni) and a former junior high school teacher and coach. He was passionate about the role of the media in the lives of children. Bud Hazel, Gonzaga professor emeritus, passed away on March 2 in Spokane. He taught communications for 37 years at Gonzaga from 1971 through 2008. He was husband to Kathleen Hazel, adjunct instructor in communication arts, and father to Michael Hazel, assistant professor of communication and leadership studies.
SPRING 2010 – 21