In Memoriam

The Rev. Luke Byrne S.J., died Jan. 27, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri. A former chaplain for Rockhurst University, Fr. Byrne was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1952, was ordained in 1965, and pronounced his final vows in 1972 at St. Francis Xavier Church. He served as pastor at St. Francis Xavier Church from 1970-75, president of Rockhurst High School from 1975-80, and assistant to the Jesuit provincial from 1980-85. In 1998, he was named the chaplain of Rockhurst University, a position he held for 15 years, during which time he also served as the chaplain for the University’s athletic teams.

John F. Daniels Jr., ’47 – Aug. 22 John H. Henke, ’49 – Sept. 17 Harold W. Mitts Sr., ’49 – Sept. 15 John A. Pyle, ’49 – Sept. 27 Earl M. Wilson, ’49 – July 12 Henry W. Devry Jr., ’50 – Nov. 29 Victor D. Bernard, ’51 – Sept. 6 John E. Hansan, ’51 – Aug. 9 Marion F. Biondo, D.O., ’52 – Dec. 28 Donald K. Sigler, ’52 – Sept. 11 Jerome S. Bolin, ’54. – Nov. 4 Donald H. Krause, ’55 – Dec. 3 Thomas D. O'Connor, ’55 – Sept. 15 Paul K. Palmer, ’55 – Nov. 3 Wilfred F. Declercq, ’56 – June 6 John D. Sheehy, ’56 – Sept. 29 Lewis E. Bechtel Jr., ’57 – Nov. 5 Clement A. Zind, ’57 – Sept.11 Henry A. Fallon, ’58 – Nov. 23 David Stark, ’58 – July 18 Edward McGurren, ’59 – Dec. 19 Francis L. Barkofske, ’60 – July 11 William A. McMichael Jr., ’60 – Oct. 21 Fredrick J. Morrow, ’60 – Nov. 10 Donald R. Flint, ’61 – Dec. 27 William M. Birmingham, ’62 – Sept. 18 A. Vincent Corbin Jr., ’62 – June 11 J. Patrick Donnelly, ’62 – Oct. 24 Eugene M. Zupanec, ’62 – Oct. 13 Kevin A. Gratton, ’63 – Aug. 28 Joseph M. Lock, ’63 – Nov. 7 Richard L. Bristow, ’66 – June 25 Lt. Col. John E. Fitzgibbons, ’66 – Aug. 3 David S. Mitchell, ’66 – July 31 Cornelius J. Sullivan, ’66 – Dec. 19 Gerald I. Bell, ’67 – Oct. 29 Russell L. Fiest, ’67 – Sept. 16 Jack L. Hardgree, ’67 – Dec. 5 J. Michael Phelps, ’67 – July 22 Robert B. Bates, ’68 – Sept. 8 Thomas J. Less, ’68 – Dec. 19 Daniel G. Baar, ’69 – June 11 John R. Loya, ’69 – Oct. 15 John J. Berringer, ’70 – Sept. 2 Jerry M. Kammerdiener, ’70 – Aug. 10 Michael H. O'Rourke, ’70 – Dec. 21 Edward J. Butler Jr., ’71 – Nov. 2 Ernest J. Rupp, ’71 – Oct. 5 Fred J. Quatrocky, ’72 – Oct. 13 Kathleen S. Speidel, ’72 – Nov. 30 P. Michael Hogan, ’74 – Aug. 26 James E. Tierney, ’74 – Sept. 13 Eugene D. Franke, ’75 – Jan. 8 Louis M. Garcia, ’77 – Nov. 13 Stanley A. Rupp, ’77 – Oct. 2 Roy D. Boykins, ’79 – Jan. 2 Patrick D. Quirk, ’81 – Nov. 15 Herbert Reh III, ’85 – July 20 Franklin H. Austin Jr., ’86 – Oct. 1 Gary P. Hummel, ’86 – July 26 Donald L. Peattie, ’86 – June 26 Frank L. Branca, ’87 – July 28 Richard E. Geiser, ’87 – Aug. 26 Karen E. Scott, ’88 – Sept. 15 Fredrick A. Hawkins, ’89 – July 30 J. Philip Jacob, ’89 – Jan. 7 Rebecca S. Agnitsch, ’90 – July 28 Trina J. Wendland, ’90 – Aug. 25 Todd K. Chappel, ’93 – Oct. 6 Catherine Munger, ’98 – June 18 Ellen Z. Darling, ’00 – Sept. 6 Yvette Rinfret, ’01 – Dec. 11 John L. Coakley Jr., ’02 – Nov. 17 Zaida Gosserand, ’08 – Dec. 14

Edgar Palacios, ’11 MBA D id you know only 8% of U.S. educators identify as Latino? It’s a statistic Edgar Palacios, ’11 MBA, is working to increase by founding the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC).

“About 25 percent of K-12 students are Latino, which means these students are not seeing themselves represented and reflected in those who serve them,” said Palacios. “The goal of the LEC is to close that gap.”

Palacios quickly noticed the issue when he was a community consultant for the Kauffman Foundation in 2016, traveling across the country visiting grade schools

In founding the LEC, he purposely used the term “Latinx” when naming the organization because he sees the “x” as a symbol of the intersection of all Latin American communities, backgrounds and identities.

“This term leads from a place of inclusivity and a commitment to equality and social justice,” he said. “It creates space for those who are often marginalized within our own community. To reach its goal, the LEC focuses its efforts at both the local and national levels, finding Latinx educators and connecting them. “Many are isolated within their own communities,” said Palacios. “We bring them together to elevate their voices and give them much-needed support. We’re already seeing an increase in representation at leadership levels, which is exciting.”

Palacios has been working in the nonprofit world since his time at RU, but he never planned to launch his own.

“It has been a faith journey,” he said. “My RU experience gave me the business acumen and servant leadership mentality to do this, but also helped me realize my purpose and the impact I want to leave on the world.” YOUNG ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: EDGAR PALACIOS, ’11 MBA Alumnus Creates Nonprofit, Hopes to Close Educational Gap WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?

Looking for the perfect addition to your team? Contact Rockhurst University’s Career Services to connect with RU alumni and students looking to start their careers and secure internships. rockhurst.edu/hireahawk