Marilyn “Mickie” Keough, a longtime benefactor of the University, died Thursday at age 90. University President Fr. John Jenkins will lead a Notre Dame delegation to a viewing and funeral for Keough in Atlanta this Wednesday and Thursday, according to a University press release.
“On behalf of the Notre Dame community around the world, I extend our deepest condolences to the Keough family, who Mickie shared so generously, along with her love and wisdom, with Our Lady’s University,” Jenkins said in the release.
According to the release, the Keough’s children – Shayla Keough Rumely; Michael, Patrick and Clarke Keough; and Eileen Keough Millard – are all Notre Dame graduates. Shayla is a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and Michael, Patrick, Clarke and Eileen serve on Notre Dame advisory councils.
Keough and her husband Don, who died in February 2015, donated a total of more than $50 million to the University over the years to fund a number of programs, buildings and professorships, including the Marilyn Keough Deanship of the Donald R. Keough School of Global Affairs and Marilyn Keough Hall, a men’s residence hall on West Quad.
According to the release, gifts from the Keoughs also funded Malloy Hall, which houses the departments of theology and philosophy; Jenkins Hall, which will house the Keough School once construction is finished next year; three library collections; the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies; two endowed chairs in Irish studies; a summer internship for Notre Dame students in Ireland; the restoration of the O’Connell House in Dublin and the Keough-Hesburgh Professorships for scholars who demonstrate a commitment to the University’s Catholic mission.
Marilyn Keough received an honorary degree from the University in 1989, according to the release. Her husband was awarded an honorary degree in 1985 and the Laetare Medal — the University’s highest award, given to prominent American Catholics — in 1993. He served as chair of the Board of Trustees from 1986 to 1991, the release said.
John Brennan, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, and Thomas Burish, University provost, will join Jenkins as representatives of Notre Dame at the funeral, according to the release.
