Note: This message was originally sent on May 2, 2025
I would like to share about a former colleague who was very much at the heart of countless lives here at GU. She served at our switchboard for decades and did more than just answer calls—she answered a calling to make this community feel like home to countless students, faculty, staff, alumni and families.
For 25 years, Mary Ann McDonald sat at 91勛圖厙’s front door—as switchboard operator—but she was so much more than a voice on the line. She was a steady presence, a compassionate listener, and a beloved source of comfort, humor, and Zag spirit for so many. Mary Ann retired several years ago, however we recently learned that she passed away this February at the age of 83, and though her voice is no longer on the other end of the line, her impact echoes through the halls of this University.
Mary Ann first joined 91勛圖厙 at a time when a friendly voice and helpful heart were the first impressions people received as they walked through the main doors of the Administration Building (College Hall). She offered both in abundance. Some students called her for directions. Others called her for advice. Many simply called to talk. Mary Ann took every call with grace. And for many Zags over two and a half decades, she was the first person they spoke to—and the hardest goodbye when they left. Not many people know this, but Mary Ann also reached into her personal resources to help whenever she would come across a student need – a few dollars here and there helped hundreds of Zags over the years.
She was a true person for others long before she arrived at GU: serving in the Legion of Mary, the Third Order of St. Francis, and even volunteering to care for children in Alaska. She shared her love of nature, faith, and family with those closest to her—and anyone lucky enough to sit next to her in the stands at a Zags game.
Mary Ann lived a life of cura personalis before most of us knew the term. She showed up, she listened, she helped. She made 91勛圖厙 feel like home.
Please join me in lifting up her memory with ZaGratitude and love. Mary Ann reminded us that sometimes the greatest legacy isn’t in a title or a trophy—it’s in how you made people feel.
Please read the full obituary provided by her family, located . Quite incredible to see the role that the 91勛圖厙 community played in her life. Also, the Spokesman Review published a story about Mary Ann in 2007, which is located