Meet Our Donors

We thank all our planned-gift donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.

M. Rosalie Kempe ASH'23

Sacred Heart Schools wishes to remember M. Rosalie Kempe ASH '23 in recognition of the 90th anniversary of her graduation from the Academy of Sacred Heart and express our continued appreciation for her dedicated service and commitment to Sacred Heart education.

Although she attended Sacred Heart before the Goals and Criteria were even introduced as a collective document to the Network, Rosalie truly lived her life vibrantly and in the spirit of the goals of Sacred Heart education.

Rosalie attended high school at Sacred Heart and graduated when the Convent of the Sacred Heart was still located at Pine Grove Avenue, which was where the school stayed until 1927. She commuted daily from her family's home in the Uptown neighborhood and she acknowledged that her years at Sacred Heart helped her to solidify her faith and prepared her with a solid foundation for further academic pursuits.

Rosalie remained extremely ambitious beyond her time at Sacred Heart, going on to achieve degrees in English and French, a minor in German, and later a post-graduate degree in Library Science. Her thirst for knowledge and personal growth evolved into a life-long love of learning as she served as a Librarian at Northwestern University for 46 years. For almost 20 of those years, she was Head Librarian at Schaffner Library, which served the Kellogg School of Management and the School of Continuing Studies During her free time and into her retirement, Rosalie also traveled extensively to Mexico, Europe, the Orient, and even sailed around the Straits of Magellan.

A neighbor and ever a good friend of the RSCJ and Sacred Heart Schools, Rosalie continued to be a familiar face around campus for several years in the late 1980's, when she assisted in compiling the Alumnae Directory and continued to promote the building of community among her alumnae peers. Sacred Heart further recognized her magnanimous character by awarding her The Catherine I. Seiker, RSCJ Award in 1998 for her outstanding dedication and service to Sacred Heart Schools.

Upon her death in 2001, Rosalie remained committed to her ongoing support of "an institution where important work was taking place." Accordingly, she bequeathed a generous gift to the mission of Sacred Heart and her memory lives on as the next generation of students attends her beloved alma mater.

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James W. Guerin, KM, H'37

It is fitting that James Warren Guerin, H '37, a member of Hardey Preparatory School for Boys' first graduating class, was also one of the first alumni to support Sacred Heart Schools in his estate plans. Jim attended Hardey for only one year as an eighth grade student, but, having continued his education at other area Catholic institutions, he once shared, "I say with ever enduring gratitude to the superb RSCJ faculty that my year as a member of Hardey's first graduating class was among my happiest on any campus."

By correspondence, especially with the students, Guerin remained a faithful alumnus from his homes in California and Idaho. But when the 60^th anniversary of his graduation loomed, he helped to find two other classmates and the three reunited at Sheridan Road to celebrate the great occasion. Happy memories were rekindled there of Mother Crilly, Mother Fulton, French class, ball games, and, especially, the quiet peace of the chapel, and, along with that, gratitude for the significant part all things Hardey Prep played in his own formation.

After his death in 2007, Sacred Heart Schools learned that Jim's commitment to Hardey Prep was truly lifelong. It was fitting that he made a significant donation to the initiative to restore the chapel, effecting the immediate completion of this important work - returning the holy space to its original grace and splendor.

Sacred Heart Schools forever remains extremely grateful to Jim Guerin for his faithful support of Sacred Heart education.

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