Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY LOU SOMOGYI T he University of Notre Dame lost a piece of its heart on Feb. 26 when Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., one of Amer- ica's most influential leaders during the 20th century and Notre Dame's president from 1952-87, died at age 97. "We mourn today a great man and faithful priest who transformed the University of Notre Dame and touched the lives of many," said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame's presi- dent. "With his leadership, charisma and vision, he turned a relatively small Catholic college known for football into one of the nation's great institu- tions for higher learning. "In his historic service to the nation, the Church and the world, he was a steadfast champion for human rights, the cause of peace and care for the poor. Perhaps his greatest influence, though, was on the lives of genera- tions of Notre Dame students, whom he taught, counseled and befriended. "Although saddened by his loss, I cherish the memory of a mentor, friend and brother in Holy Cross and am consoled that he is now at peace with the God he served so well." His time of death came approxi- mately 12 hours after his most cher- ished activity. "Fr. Ted had long prayed that God would allow him to say Mass on his last day on earth. Fr. Hesburgh, C.S.C., did just that at 11:30 a.m. Thursday among his brothers in Holy Cross," Fr. Paul Doyle, rector of Dillon Hall, said in an email to the hall's residents. On May 25, 1917, one of Notre Dame's three most pivotal leaders in its 173-year history was born in Syra- cuse, N.Y. Along with Rev. Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C., and Knute Rockne, Hes- burgh comprises "The Big Three" who have had the broadest range of influ- ence while making the University of Notre Dame one of the preeminent An Eternal Notre Dame TREASURE University mourns the death of Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C.