It is with deep sorrow that we have learned of the death of Douglas Long, Director of the First-Year Program. Doug passed away on August 26, 2025 after battling Leukemia. He was 62.
Doug earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University, where he then served as Director of Audience Development before joining DePaul in 2000 as an instructor in the College of Communication. He then became director of the First-Year Program in 2009. The program is recognized as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, a reflection of Doug’s leadership and vision. His work helped shape the experience of thousands of students and supported a great many faculty and staff across the university.
Doug’s passion for movies and their production was widely known. He was always ready for deep conversations about filmmaking and movie trivia with friends and colleagues. He also had a deep love for theatre and stage performance, for which he was a director. His love of family and faith gave him the support and courage to face the challenges of his illness with strength and spirit.
Most of all, Doug was known for his kindness and caring nature, his sense of humor, and his collaborative spirit that kept the First-Year Program thriving and exciting for first-year students. He consistently built dedicated teams of faculty and staff who valued his leadership and collegiality and motivated all to make DePaul’s first-year experience one of excellence. In his own words, “One benefit of working in the First-Year Program is interacting with other people who value education and the opportunity to make the beginning of the college experience as successful as possible.” He will be deeply missed and remembered by many.
Doug is survived by his wife, Kay, children Adam and Sarah, his parents, and three brothers. Visitation will take place on Saturday, August 30, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home, 4343 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL. A “Words of Remembrance” service will start at 2:00 p.m. A larger Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be submitted at Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan – Doug Long Obituary and Tribute
A university remembrance service will be held on Thursday, September 25, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Cortelyou Commons. RSVP HERE through DeHub
Vincent was a trailblazer, a true change agent of his day. He was a man who saw hope and possibility despite the challenges of his time. He felt a keen dissatisfaction in the gap between the way the world should be and the way the world was. Throughout his 79 years, Vincent sought to close that divide, asking “what must be done” and acting on the answers he found. His life was marked by a deep commitment and devotion to service, grounded in love for all people, especially those most in need.
Each fall, we celebrate Vincentian Heritage Week in honor of St. Vincent de Paul’s Feast Day on September 27. For more than four hundred years, DePaul University has continued to carry forward his legacy by educating the next generation of trailblazers.
Please join us for a week of community building and celebration in the Loop and in Lincoln Park!
Mass to Honor St. Vincent de Paul in Lincoln Park & Refreshments
Tuesday, September 23 | Lincoln Park Campus Mass | 12:00 pm | St. Louise de Marillac Chapel Refreshments | 12:45 pm | CCM (Student Center Suite 104)
Celebrate St. Vincent de Paul with a celebratory Mass at 12:00pm in the St. Louise de Marillac Chapel. Everyone is welcome! Join us afterwards for refreshments across the hall in Catholic Campus Ministry (Student Center – Suite 104). Walk ins are welcome.
Loop Mini Vinny Fest
Tuesday, September 23, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm | Loop DePaul Center Concourse
Join Office of Student Involvement and Mission and Ministry for the Loop Mini Vinny Fest! Celebrate our namesake’s Feast Day and DePaul University with fun, food, games, photos, free t-shirts and more! This is a DePaul tradition you don’t want to miss! To register, please click here.
Mass to Honor St. Vincent de Paul in the Loop
Wednesday, September 24 | 12:00 pm | Miraculous Medal Chapel First floor of the Lewis Center
Celebrate St. Vincent de Paul with a celebratory Mass at 12:00pm in the Miraculous Medal Chapel. Everyone is welcome!
St. Vincent de Paul Heritage Week Luncheon
Thursday, September 25 (12:00 pm-1:30 pm) | Loop DePaul Center Room 8005 Faculty and Staff only
Join the DePaul faculty and staff community at our annual St Vincent de Paul Heritage Week Luncheon in the Loop as we listen about and reflect on Vincentian Higher Education.
This event will take place in room 8005 of The DePaul Center beginning at noon. Lunch will be served. We will also be hosting the conversation via Zoom, for those who cannot be with us in person. Whether in person or remotely, we hope you will join us!
Please RSVP for either in-person or remote attendance by following this link.
St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Breakfast
Friday, September 26 (8:45 am-10:00 am) | Student Center 120 A & B
Come celebrate our shared Vincentian heritage with delicious food and great community at our annual St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Breakfast. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Martine Green-Rogers, Dean of DePaul’s Theatre School, who will share how she integrates the mission into her professional and personal life.
Join us in community, gathered for the sake of a mission. All are welcome! Please register here.
Vinny Fest
Friday, September 26 (2:00 pm-4:00 pm) | Lincoln Park Quad & St. Vincent’s Circle
Join us for Vinny Fest 2025, a DePaul tradition to honor and celebrate St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy with fun, games, photos with Vincent, free food, and more! Vinny Fest features student organizations, offices, and departments as they host engaging activities to celebrate our mission in action as a DePaul community. Follow @depaulvia to stay up to date.
To register to participate, please click here.
Partners interested in registering may access the required form here.
Sunday Night Mass & BBQ
Sunday, September 28, 5:00 pm Mass & BBQ at 6:00 pm | St. Vincent de Paul Parish
Join Catholic Campus Ministry and St. Vincent de Paul Parish for a (free) BBQ on the Parish Lawn (on Webster Ave.) to celebrate the Feast Day directly following 5pm Mass.Whether you go to Mass weekly, occasionally, or have never been to a Catholic Mass, you are welcome here! Come celebrate! Walk-ins are welcome.
Patrick Donoghue, the father of Irish Studies Program director Mary McCain, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025, at the age of 80. An attorney and 78-year resident of Michigan City, Indiana, Pat practiced municipal and corporate law and was a member of the Indiana Bar for 56 years.
Pat graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1966, and received a Juris Doctor in 1969 from Indiana University in Bloomington. He served as a law clerk for the Hon. James E. Noland of the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, from 1969 to 1971. He spoke often over the years of this clerkship not only as the honor that it was, but also as a formative experience that would influence his work throughout his career.
In Michigan City, he joined the firm Sweeney, Fox, Sweeney, Winski, and Dabagia, later becoming a partner. Pat was the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board’s attorney for many years and served in similar roles for the Redevelopment Commission and other boards and councils. He recently received a Distinguished: Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards from Martindale-Hubbell.
An avid sailor, Pat participated in many races and served as the Judge Advocate for the Michigan City Yacht Club. He helped found the South Shore Sailing School and did volunteer legal work and was a longtime board member at the LaPorte County Historical Steam Society.
Pat maintained a lifelong connection to Ireland and Irish culture. He spent much of his time in retirement reading, particularly about American, Irish, and British history, rewatching classic Western movies, traveling, and supporting and taking pride in his children and grandchildren, who loved him deeply and will miss him terribly.
Pat is survived by his wife, Nancy, four children, nine grandchildren, and many extended family and friends.
With sadness, we have learned of the death of Chris Rone, who worked for 25 years in the Office of Financial Aid. Chris passed away on June 24, 2025, at the age of 57.
After completing his undergraduate studies at National Louis University, Chris earned a Master of Arts in Public Policy from The George Washington University and a Doctorate of Education from DePaul University. Throughout his career, Chris helped countless students stay in school and afford their education. His name continues to sound praises in the DePaul community: as one student wrote in the DePaul alumni board, “Chris was the man every student deserved to meet once.” In a world so defined by inequity, Chris fought tirelessly to level the playing field. His work was life-changing, not only for his students, but for those around him. Chris reminded us that there is value in work that helps others, and that we can all do our part in creating a better world.
Outside of work, Chris enjoyed fishing and spending time with family and friends. He was an avid Liverpool fan and a long-suffering fan of Chicago sports teams. Chris’ wit and bitingly funny tongue brought joy into every activity–even the smallest errand with Chris is a memory to treasure. His legacy lives on with the laughter that surrounded him in life and the transformative optimism of his work. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Robin, son, mother, two brothers, and many extended family and friends.
Services will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at A.A. Rayner and Sons Funeral Home, 318 E. 71st Street, Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are appreciated to the DePaul University Scholarship Fund.
With sadness, we have learned of the death of Margaret “Peggy” Schultz (Kelly), (LAS ’87), Senior Administrative Assistant in Academic Affairs at DePaul for more than ten years. She was also known to many as the Academic Integrity Coordinator. Peggy was the sister of Kathy Kelly Hillegonds of the Office of the Dean in the Driehaus College of Business. Peggy passed away at the age of 62 on June 6, 2025, after a battle with cancer.
Peggy earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from DePaul in 1987 and was working on her master’s degree in public services. Peggy is survived by her three children Bradley, Alex and Abby, three sisters (Maggie, Kathy and Sheila), and extended family and friends. With her wisdom, quiet strength and generous spirit, Peggy left a mark on all of us. She will be sorely missed.
A memorial visitation for friends and family will be held at Tews-Ryan Funeral Home in Homewood (18230 Dixie Hwy.) on Friday, June 13 from 3 – 7:30 p.m., with a memorial service beginning at 7:30 p.m. A burial service will follow on Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum in Glenwood (19500 S. Cottage Grove Ave.).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Cancer Support Center in Homewood, the South Suburban Humane Society in Matteson or NAWS Humane Society in Mokena.
Peggy’s obituary and online condolences can be found here.
A new special edition of Vincentian Heritage features papers presented at the conference Becoming a Church of the Poor: The Vincentian Charism and Reform is now available online. LEARN MORE
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE
Faculty and Staff are Invited…
Join us for aconversation with Dr. Kelly Schmidt, a public historian from Washington University, as she shares her research on the history of the Catholic Church and enslaved people in the United States. Followed by lunch and thoughtful discussion.Don’t miss this meaningful event! RSVP HERE
An Invitation to Foundation Day Mass
All faculty and staff are invited to join us at the Loop Campus for a special Foundation Day Mass. Celebrate with a lunch following the service as we reflect on our shared values and mission. RSVP HERE
With sadness, we have learned of the death of Anne F. Laboe, the mother of Mark Laboe, Interim Vice President of Mission and Ministry. Anne passed away on December 17 at the age of 82 after a long illness.
Reflection by: Mark Laboe, Interim Vice President, Mission and Ministry
A very influential and helpful idea on my personal spiritual journey emerged for me decades ago when I read This Blessed Mess: Finding Hope Amidst Life’s Chaos by Patricia Livingston. The simple yet profound main idea that captured my attention and that I internalized was this: just as God created life, love, and beauty out of darkness and chaos (see Genesis), so must we be agents of the ongoing creative process in our own lives, during which we often face moments of chaos. Furthermore, there is a creative energy that is present within the chaos of our lives that can ultimately become transformative and life-giving. Grasping this idea conceptually is one thing, but living it is another.
Fortunately, life inevitably provides a lot of practice by bringing us situations that feel like chaos again and again over the course of a lifetime. This might take the form of heartbreaking and tragic losses, illness and injury, or seemingly impossible situations in which the whole world seems to be against us. We may also have to deal with the painful aftermath of harmful human decisions and actions, whether our own or those of others (such as war and violence, greed, or ego-driven and self-centered behaviors). Whatever form it takes, the word “mess” is an unfortunately adequate description for what we often face in our lives. How could this “mess” possibly be “blessed”?
One piece of adult wisdom that helps us get through such moments comes in remembering simply that “this too shall pass.” I have heard it suggested that the difference between the child and the adult is that that adult knows the moment will pass. A child or adolescent is without the life experience to know that a painful life situation will eventually give way. Christian theology holds the profound understanding of the paschal mystery, modeled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, to understand that there is hope and the potential for new life and redemption on the other side of death and suffering.
In fact, each “blessed mess” offers us an opportunity to clarify and define who we are and who we will become moving forward from that difficult moment. It is an opportunity to create and re-create our lives, grounded in the values and actions we know or believe to be good, true, and beautiful, and for the betterment of humanity. Victor Frankl, the famous Holocaust survivor, is known to have said that “everything can be taken from a (person) but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” [1] Though I may first complain and cry in the face of chaos, sometimes I can also then laugh out loud when things start piling up on me and I realize that I am more… and life is more… than what I am experiencing in that moment. I am encouraged when I consider the freedom that I have to choose how I will face it.
Moments of “chaos” lead me repeatedly to the question: What anchors and guides me now and ultimately? What values and commitments do I want my life to reflect, and do I want to choose to live into in this moment? Which are most consistent with who I know myself to be and believe I was created by God to become? And how can we answer these questions in applying them to ourselves as a community?
Institutions and communities go through similar moments. Yet, making a shared commitment or “attitude adjustment” as a collective is quite a bit more complicated than just deciding to do so for oneself. It can be work, and it can require patience, empathy, generosity, love, and courage to get all on the same wavelength. Yet, having a shared mission to draw on can help a community like ours at DePaul. As we move through difficult and uncertain moments, our periods of chaos can become opportunities for clarification, for remembering and re-committing to each other, and for carefully discerning the values and sense of vocation that anchor and guide us.
I have often heard two related African proverbs quoted that emphasize the communal nature of the human person. They serve as important reminders about how we may best move through communal moments of chaos. One states that “no one goes to heaven alone,” and another is, “If you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together.” In a society and world that is so often individualistic or that struggles to bridge divides, such a communal mindset is countercultural. However, at DePaul, we often point to an understanding that we are a “community gathered together for the sake of the mission.” This is a modern take on the initials C.M. for Congregation of the Mission, the apostolic community we may better know as the Vincentians, established by Vincent de Paul. Our mission, therefore, offers us the encouragement and the charge to be countercultural in working and caring for the good of the whole, rather than simply defending our own individual positions or being satisfied simply with “going it alone.”
To move through moments of chaos in our lives, then, we benefit from seeing them as opportunities to anchor ourselves more deeply in what is most important and most true to who we are, and to do so together with others. The moment will pass, and we will endure. The question that remains throughout it all is who we will become in the process. Such moments reveal the ultimate gift and test of our human freedom, our identity, and our mission.
Reflection by: Mark Laboe, Interim Vice President, Mission and Ministry
With sadness, we have learned of the death of Anne F. Laboe, the mother of Mark Laboe, Interim Vice President of Mission and Ministry. Anne passed away on December 17 at the age of 82 after a long illness.
A teacher and a linguist, Anne taught high school French at both Catholic Central High School in Monroe, Michigan and Bedford High School in Temperance, Michigan, receiving multiple outstanding educator awards. After retiring, she translated several books about the appearances of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, Bosnia from French to English.
Anne was an avid fan of reading, baking, and crafting. But mostly she served with her intellect and faith in the Monroe community as a board members of various organizations, and especially at St. Mary’s Parish in Monroe, of which she was Christian Women President for 6 years. She practiced forgiveness, humility, kindness and generosity. She was fun-loving and loyal to her friends and loved playing games and spending time with her grandchildren.
Anne is survived by her husband of 59 years, six children, twelve grandchildren, and many extended family and friends.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, December 26 from 3 – 7 p.m. at Rupp Funeral Home in Monroe, Michigan. Funeral on Friday, December 27; 10 a.m. at Rupp Funeral Home, followed by Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Parish and interment at St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Mary of Monroe Parish Christian Women or to Cure PSP (www.psp.org).
Reflection by: Erin Herrmann, Associate Director, Writing Center
Photo by Mike Labrum, Unsplash.com
“I believe that you work with one another to grow in perfection in keeping with the divine plan. All the actions of our lives can serve this purpose even those which might appear destined to withdraw you from that intimate union with God which you so ardently desire. Very often this union is established in us through no action of our own in a manner known only to God and not as we would wish to imagine it.” — Louise de Marillac[1]
When I began my role at DePaul in the summer of 2017, I was excited but also nervous. As an associate director, I felt responsible to represent the Writing Center well. As I started attending meetings with people from departments across campus, I felt intimidated; everyone knew so much and knew one another quite well. What could I contribute to this tight-knit community as someone so new, practically still an outsider?
Fast forward to autumn quarter 2024, which was perhaps my busiest quarter to date in my time at DePaul. Now in my eighth academic year, I found this quarter offered numerous ways in which I could readily contribute as part of the vibrant DePaul community: teaching two courses on top of my full-time staff role, serving as chair of the Communication Committee for Staff Council, and completing training as a staff professional for FY@broad with Study Abroad. While these commitments meant significant time and seemingly innumerable meetings and tasks added to my calendar, they also shared something else in common. These opportunities, alongside my daily work in the Writing Center collaborating with colleagues and supporting our student employees, were purposefully busy.
I define purposefully busy as those tasks that are more than productivity; rather, they are people-centered activities that enable me to serve others through the work. All the while, I, too, am being fed through my interactions with students, faculty, and staff who offer care and collaboration. As Saint Louise de Marillac says in the quote above, we must work with one another to fulfill our purposes.
In my life outside of work, I was experiencing emotional difficulty during autumn quarter. I walked through the final denouement of a long-term relationship in which I’d long held hope for a shared future. The fullness of my days attending to the numerous purposes I engaged in at DePaul offered a meaningful focus, but the grief of loss lingered in the background, at times coming full force in my mind.
Then, grief showed up in perhaps its most recognizable form: on November 5, my Uncle Roger died. It was the day of the presidential election, a fraught, precipitous day for each of us, and all I could think was “My uncle died today.” While he had been in ill health for quite some time, it was one of those times where things moved quickly, in a matter of days, from hospice care to his passing. My uncle and his immediate family live in northeast Ohio; my closest family members live in the suburbs of Chicago. So, on a weekday, it wasn’t feasible to be together. I didn’t have anyone in the immediate vicinity or in the schedule of my day to hug me. I was deeply sad and felt rather alone.
But when grief shows up, so, too, does love.
In the days following my uncle’s passing, I shared with colleagues about the loss; I received more than one hug. I even shared with one of my classes, and a room full of students offered looks and words of compassion and comfort. On November 13, I attended the Gathering of Remembrance hosted by the Division of Mission and Ministry. While I feel like a well-connected DePaul community member at this point, this was the first time I had attended. I’d considered going in past years but hadn’t been able to fit it into my schedule. This year also required some schedule adjustment to make it work, but now that I was experiencing loss, this special event came just when I needed it most.
At the event, I saw many faces I know and many I have come to cherish. Most were people from various parts of my “extra-curricular” life at DePaul, that is, not part of my official job description in the Writing Center but connected to me through engagement in our community. The staff members from Mission and Ministry hosted the event with such reverence, grace, and hospitality. The love in the room, even amid our tears, was palpable and comforting. At that point, I hadn’t yet seen anyone in my family since my uncle’s passing, but there I was surrounded by my Vincentian family nonetheless.
My purposefully busy autumn quarter ended with great fulfillment for me. My students were largely successful in their courses, and grades have been submitted. The Communications Committee of Staff Council has collaboratively published three newsletters to date. The training for FY@broad is complete, and I am ready to begin winter quarter with preparing an intrepid group of students for our trip to Ireland over spring break. I continued therapy and reflection, and my heart has started to recover. I said yes to the beautiful invitation for community when faced with loss.
The people within my Vincentian family and the DePaul community are the throughline—the accompaniment we offer to one another is beyond what I ever could have imagined when I first came here. It must be, as Saint Louise believed, that our unions to God and to one another are “… established in us through no action of our own in a manner known only to God.” God knew what he was doing in bringing me to DePaul and in bringing the DePaul community to flourish in my life.
Considerations for Reflection:
How is being purposefully busy different from just being busy? Do you see yourself engaging in being purposefully busy?
How have you experienced love in times of grief?
Reflection by: Erin Herrmann, Associate Director, Writing Center
Patrick Donoghue, the father of Irish Studies Program director Mary McCain, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025, at the age of 80. An attorney and 78-year resident of Michigan City, Indiana, Pat practiced municipal and corporate law and was a member of the Indiana Bar for 56 years.
With sadness, we have learned of the death of Chris Rone, who worked for 25 years in the Office of Financial Aid. Chris passed away on June 24, 2025, at the age of 57. 
