Celebration of Fr. Jerry Cavanagh, S.J., on Saturday, June 3, 2023

April 26, 2023
several images of fr cavanagh including old yearbook, teaching and immersion trip

Celebration of Fr. Jerry Cavanagh, S.J.
Saturday, June 3, 2023

More than 150 people came together on June 3 to celebrate the life of Professor Emeritus Fr. Gerald Cavanagh, S.J.

Alumni, faculty, staff and family members came together at what was originally planned to be a retirement party for Fr. Cavanagh, but changed into a celebration of his life after he passed away last November.

The event included Mass at St. Ignatius Chapel on the McNichols Campus and a dinner and silent auction. Items included collections of Cavanagh’s seminal works in business ethics and other prizes donated by supporters and alumni.

A new book, Business Ethics and Social Responsibility: Essential Works of Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J. was published in conjunction with the event.

Attendees watched video montages of Fr. Cavanagh and listened to remembrances by friends, colleagues and family members. Guests received commemorative medallions with Fr. Cavanagh’s likeness designed by Marie Henderson, RSM.

Including sponsorship pledges, cash donations, ticket sales, and silent auction revenue, more than $230,000 was raised at the event to support the new Cavanagh Fund for Ethical Solutions to Social Problems.

Additional donations can be made from the College of Business Administration's Donation Form. Be sure to select "Fr. Cavanagh--Ethical Solutions to Social Problems" from the Designation menu.
A medallion featuring the likeness of Fr. Cavanagh. Text on the program below reads, Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J., 1931-2022. Text on the medallion reads Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J., Fisher Chair of Business Ethics.
Five people sit around a table, a few of them smiling, inside of the Student Fitness Center.
A woman wearing a nametag stands and speaks indoors from a podium, that has a red University of Detroit Mercy banner on it.
More than 100 people sit around tables inside of the Student Fitness Center and watch a video being player on a giant projector.
A man wearing a nametag that reads Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, S.J. speaks from a podium.
Three Detroit Mercy leaders and administrators sit at a table and watch a video being played inside of the Student Fitness Center.
Three students stand inside of the Student Fitness Center, one speaking from a podium that has a red University of Detroit Mercy, College of Business Administration banner hanging from it.
A man wearing a suit stands and speaks indoors from a podium, that has a red University of Detroit Mercy banner on it.

Thank you Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Eric Hespenheide

 

Silver Sponsors

Mark Bealin
Gary and Debby Priestap
Brad Simmons
College of Business Administration Board of Advisors

Bronze Sponsors

Joseph Berkowski and Ina Fernandez
Relatives of Fr. Jerry Cavanagh
Norm and Cathy Schmitt
Dave Stangis
The Thiele and Soave Family

 

Organizational & Silent Auction Donors

Absopure Water
Alliance Catholic Credit Union
Detroit Mercy Theatre Company 
Detroit Red Wings
The Jesuit Community at Detroit Mercy
Mike Arkison

 

Heritage Optical
Johnson Recreation Center, University of Detroit Jesuit High School
Manresa Jesuit Retreat House
Sisters of Mercy
Titan Athletics

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