Friendship Leads to New Scholarship Honoring Alumnus

Patrick Reidy (’79) and
Dr. Robert Churchill (’68)

Dr. Robert Churchill (’68) viewed Patrick Reidy (’79) as more than the Loras College employee he worked with to facilitate his annual giving.

“The first time I visited with Pat, we were scheduled to meet for an hour—and we talked way past that,” said Churchill, who is the retired dean of the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

From that first meeting over breakfast in Columbia, Missouri, in 2019, a friendship developed over the course of the next two years. Learning that Reidy was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic carcinoma in August 2021, Churchill established an endowed scholarship in honor of Reidy.

To date, more than $77,000 has been raised, and over 90 gifts have been received for the Patrick E. and Karen Reidy Scholarship to help students pursue their education at Loras.

Patrick Reidy lost his valiant battle with cancer on July 10, 2022.

Born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa, Reidy graduated from Columbus High School in 1975. During his senior year at Loras he met the love of his life Karen Rodham (’81), and they married in 1982. They were blessed with 40 years of marriage, four children, and four grandchildren.

Pat joined the Loras advancement team in 2018 as a development officer. He treasured his time working for his beloved alma mater and building relationships with alumni and other benefactors.

Beyond his devotion to God, Reidy’s enduring legacy will be his positive outlook on life and his unconditional love for his family and friends. “I hope people who knew Patrick, particularly his classmates in the Class of 1979, will help raise as much as we can for this scholarship,” said Churchill.