“My father, Gerald Leahy, established the Leahy-Kannaday Endowed Scholarship about seven years ago because he wanted to give back to the school that had provided both of us with such a wonderful graduate education in Health Care Administration. My father has always understood and stressed the importance of getting an education. He wanted to set up this endowed scholarship as a way to assist other students.

I graduated from Saint Louis University with a Masters in Health Care Administration in 1991. SLU provided me with a solid foundation which allowed me to launch my career as a Health Care Executive. I believe it is important to give back to your University and there is no greater gift than helping other students receive an education that will make a difference in their lives. I support the scholarship fund annually so that it will continue to grow in value.

Within the Jesuit tradition is the belief in educating the whole person – mind, body, heart and spirit. Our scholarship directly supports the mission, values and tradition of Saint Louis University by helping other students pursue higher goals and dreams through their Jesuit education.”

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In late February 2007, Saint Louis University announced that alumnus Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz (A&S ‘75) made a $12 million gift to SLU and that the new Arena would be named in his honor. But what motivated the namesake of the Chaifetz Arena to give back to his alma mater in such a big way? In his own words, Chaifetz shares an encounter with the SLU president at the time, Paul Reinert, S.J., that changed his life forever.

Obviously, my education at Saint Louis University had a very profound effect on me. It taught me the importance of a well-rounded, liberal education and allowed me to solidify my career goals. But most importantly, it taught me to give back.

At the time I attended the University, my parents were divorced, and my father ostensibly was going to be paying my tuition. In the second semester of my freshman year, I got a call from the bursar’s office to come down because there was an issue. Unbeknownst to me my tuition hadn’t been paid, and they were asking me to leave the school.

I said, “I can’t leave school. This is all I have going for me, and it’s very important to me. What can I do?” They told me that short of seeing Father Reinert there was nothing they could do other than tell me that I would no longer be an eligible student.

So I went immediately to see Father Reinert. For a young freshman, a Jesuit priest at that level was very intimidating. I told him what the circumstances were, and he just stared at me and didn’t say anything for awhile. After a few minutes, I told him again how important my education was and no matter what happened, if he would give me some grace period, I would eventually pay the tuition.

I also told him that I was going to be a success in life and that my education at SLU was going to be big part of it. I told him that I would not only make sure that I made good on my tuition commitment, but also that I would pay back Saint Louis University in some way once I was able to get my career going and be as successful as I hoped and thought I would be.

He looked at me, and after a few minutes he said, “Rich, I believe in you, and I’m going to give you as much time as you need to pay your tuition because you’re the kind of student we want at Saint Louis University.” That was the first and only time I met with Father Reinert. I eventually did pay the tuition, a combination of my own earnings and working something out with my divorced parents.

But why did I choose the Arena? I’m a big sports fan, and basketball was a very big part of my social life at school. Not having much money, it was a relatively low-cost way to entertain, both with dates and friends. I attended almost all the games. It just was a very, very important part of my experience there and something I look back at with a lot of joy. And when this opportunity came up to be involved with the Arena and more importantly, to actually name the Arena, I jumped on it.

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"Education is so very important; anyone who wants an education and is willing to work very hard should have that opportunity. Our family started out with an Annual Scholarship and during that time met some very outstanding and deserving students. Our biggest thrill is the Annual Scholarship Dinner and still is where we had the opportunity to interact with our student recipient’s but also got to see and hear the stories of other students. This led my wife Diana and me to consider an Endowed Scholarship. With the help of my former employer Anheuser-Busch and their employee matching gift program we made it happen.

Our giving has progressed over time, we were not able to write the “Big Check” but were able to keep the giving coming over a long period of time. So many people think that if they can’t make that large commitment they will wait until they can, in our busy lives sometimes that commitment never gets made. We are very proud of our son David who graduated from SLU and equally proud to name our scholarship in his name. We feel it is our duty to give back and help others, what better way than through a SLU education."

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Any husband or wife would be proud to have their partner described with these words. But what if these traits apply to both?

Drs. Mary Elizabeth Hogan and Ron Modras are one of Saint Louis University’s married “super couples.” While many life partners come home from work to decide who will take out the trash or make dinner, these two encourage and inspire each other’s spiritual and professional paths.

Modras, a theological studies professor, has taught at SLU since 1979. Hogan most recently served as special assistant to the provost, after being associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of special projects at the Center for Health Care Ethics.

Though Hogan and Modras have not worked directly together at the University, they share an excitement and appreciation for exploring Ignatian values. Together, the two completed campus ministry’s “Bridges” program, an eight-month program of reflection that requires, among other things, daily prayer and meditation. The program is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. “We would both do it in the morning, and he’d be sitting in one room, and I’d be sitting in another room of the house. Our separate prayer together,” Hogan said with a smile.

In addition, Hogan and Modras participated in all three installments of Shared Vision, a three-part video and discussion series that explores SLU’s Jesuit identity and gives participants an opportunity to grow in their knowledge and understanding of what it means to be part of a Jesuit university.

Modras, one of the originators of Shared Vision, expanded that understanding when he wrote the often-quoted book Ignatian Humanism in 2004. A noted theologian, the professor is renowned for his expertise in Catholic-Jewish relations and his role in SLU’s Ignatian Year celebration. The classes he teachers at SLU, particularly “Jerusalem: City of Three Faiths,” fill quickly with students wanting to learn more about faith relations.

Spirituality also comes naturally to Hogan, who attended grade and high schools founded by a Jesuit. Hogan later became one of the Sisters of Saint Joseph before arriving at SLU. She pursued her doctorate in higher education here and focused her dissertation on the history of women in Jesuit higher education after being inspired by a document titled “Jesuits and the Situation of Women in Church and Civil Society” from the 34th general congregation of the Society of Jesus.

“It’s interesting when I think back and look at how my life has evolved. It’s kind of full circle with emphasis on Jesuit spirituality,” Hogan said.

That spirituality is strengthened further by their interaction with SLU students. Hogan and Modras attend many of SLU’s events, particularly theater productions.

“Saint Louis University is a very spiritual campus. It has a wonderful university culture, and we always get season tickets to the theater. We always come back enriched by what the students do,” Hogan said.

The couple also invites students in Modras’ classes to their home for meals and conversation, something the couple initiated with a Seder meal inspired by the “Jerusalem” course.

“We’ve had Muslims, Jews, Christian students sitting around the table together and appreciating a non-Christian feast, a high holy day of the Jewish calendar, and coming to our home has made a significant difference,” Hogan said. One student even told the couple, “This is what I always thought college would be like, that we’d go to professors’ houses and have conversations. Now I’m a senior, and I finally experienced it.”

>Even their dog, Wolfgang, gets in on the act, making frequent appearances at SLU. “Our dog is very famous on campus,” Hogan said. “When we go away for weekends, we often have students take care of Wolfie. It’s never hard to get doggie sitters.” Modras added, “I’ve had people say, ‘Oh, I haven’t met you yet, but I think I’ve met your dog.’ He loves to come to campus. He has good times here.”

Hogan and Modras have been lauded locally and nationally by colleagues and organizations. In spring 2007, the couple took two impressive University honors: the Nancy McNeir Ring award for outstanding teaching for Modras, and a 2007 Woman of the Year award for Hogan.

“If you live long enough, all of a sudden you find yourself getting lifetime achievement awards,” Modras laughed.

The happy couple’s chapter at SLU is slowly closing, as Hogan recently retired from the University and Modras is in phased retirement. For the next few years, though, they’ll be around. In Spring 2008, the team will head to SLU’s Madrid campus, where Modras will teach theology and Hogan will teach writing.

“I think we’ve been privileged to be a couple at a Jesuit university together,” Hogan said.