Onyx Anneau Fall 2020

BRIGHT LIGHT Sister Barbara Doherty was a ‘swellie’ A

By Karen Dyer

“I always thought of her as a bright light,” said Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College alumna Carmen Piasecki ’70, attorney at Nickle & Piasecki Law Firm in South Bend, Indiana, of Emerita President Barbara Doherty, SP, ’53, Ph.D., who passed away Aug. 17, 2020. Sister Barbara served faithfully as the 13 th president of the College from 1984-1998, and as chancellor of the College following her retirement until her death. “She had such a sense of spontaneity about her. She really brought things to life,” said Piasecki as she fondly recounted a memory of Sister Barbara being an animated and passionate instructor, who would often look for ways to bring her teaching to life. “I remember she was teaching us on a difficult concept. She stood first on a chair and then on the desk, and then promptly put her foot in the waste basket.” “She’s been a part of my life for a long time. She was dynamic and a unique individual, who was easy to talk to,” added Piasecki, whose connections to The Woods and Sister Barbara were as student and trustee. Piasecki served the College as chair of the board of trustees from 1997 to 2000. Sister Barbara, known for making an impact – in the lives of many alumni and in the community – was an author, leader, lecturer, scholar, servant, teacher and theologian, however she may be best remembered for her gregarious personality and as a fierce mentor and friend. “In the late 1980s, when I worked for S. Barbara (or SBD as we referred to her!), we launched a $15 million fundraising campaign in conjunction with the College’s Sesquicentennial. Sister Barbara had promoted me into the position of Vice President of Institutional Advancement at a young age and took a chance on me,” shared alumna Angela White ’86, senior consultant and CEO of Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates in Indianapolis, Indiana. “Together, we visited donors, seized opportunities and faced challenges in order to successfully achieve our campaign goal. What I remember most about Sister Barbara is her leadership style – she demanded perfection, but in the right way: she mentored you, guided you, and always gave

“Please let yourself know as you view your life in retrospect – with whatever distance of years lies behind you – that the reason you are here today, in the place you are in your head and heart – the reason you have not been swallowed up in your own pain and struggle – is because the purposes of God are riding on your existence, the power and the Providence of God are riding on your existence. With this knowledge, you cannot fail.” — Barbara Doherty, SP, ’53

13 th President Barbara Doherty, SP, ’53 Dec. 2, 1931 – Aug. 17, 2020

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