Endowments
An endowment is a fund that assures the future of an institution. Endowment funds are conservatively invested. Our total endowment as of June 30, 2019 is $13,082,773. The Endowment Fund, held in trust and invested in perpetuity, is a fund that will help assure the future of St. Mary’s Academy. A gift to the endowment is a gift to the community of St. Mary’s Academy and an assurance that our legacy will continue to be available to young people far into the future. St. Mary’s Academy wishes to acknowledge the following donors who have established named endowment funds:
Academic Funds
The Maureen DeMarco Endowed Award
Established in 1997 with gifts in memory of Maureen DeMarco who was a Spanish teacher at SMA until her untimely death in 1996. This fund provides an annual award to a student who demonstrates an enthusiastic interest in Spanish.
The Alney A. Norell Fund
Established in 2004 from the estate of Alney Alba Norell ’23. This fund provides support for an annual poetry contest in memory of Alney’s grandmother, Louisa-Euen (Grogran) Hicks.
Financial Aid Funds
The Carr Family Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2007 by William and Gracie Carr, parents of Rebecca Carr ’98 and Johanna Carr ’10. This fund supports student financial aid, particularly in support of diversity and fulfillment of the Loretto Mission.
The Kathleen Crowley Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2008 by Kathleen A. Crowley ’62, the fund supports student financial aid, particularly children of alumnae if appropriate.
The Regina Tynan Karr Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 1993 by Sheila Karr ‘73, the fund honors her mother, Regina Tynan Karr ‘35, and supports student financial aid.
The Cristi Lippert Lundquist Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2009 by Cristi Lippert Lundquist ’77, the fund supports student financial aid.
The Mary Armstrong McMahon Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 1997 by Peggy McMahon ‘63 J.D. and Nancy McMahon ‘65 Psy.D. in memory of their mother, Mary Armstrong McMahon, the fund supports student financial aid.
Kathryn McNamee Named Endowment
Established in 2017 by Kathryn McNamee, MSMAC, to support students at St. Mary’s Academy who exhibit leadership, scholarship, and the Loretto School Values.
The Helena O’Brien Murray
Endowed Financial Aid Fund Established in 1997 by Catherine Murray Hencmann ‘46, Betty Murray Murphy ‘49 and Adele Murray De Line ‘54 in memory of their mother, Helena Murray ‘23, the fund supports student financial aid.
The Robert and Edith O’Connor Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2010 by Edith O’Connor, the fund honors her grandchild, Shannon Danahey ‘07, and supports student financial aid.
The Pardee Family Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2009 by William and Maria Pardee, parents of Caroline Pardee ‘07 and Hanna Pardee ‘13, the fund supports student financial aid for High School students.
The Eleanor Diss Sabin M.D. Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2010 by Mary Martha Diss Sundby ’72 in memory of her sister Eleanor Diss Sabin ’76 and in honor of the Sisters of Loretto and St. Mary’s Academy faculty such as Judy Curtis who inspired the self confidence in Eleanor for her to become a doctor. Eleanor played field hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball at SMA. Eleanor achieved everywhere she turned and when it came time to recognize her at graduation, St. Mary’s Academy bestowed upon Eleanor the Marion Award. Eleanor also returned to SMA to coach the first state tournament basketball team. The fund supports student financial aid, particularly children of inner-city parochial schools.
The Schlessman Family Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 1996 by Carol Mansfield Schlessman ‘76 and her husband Gary Schlessman, parents of Jennifer Schlessman ‘00 and Megan Schlessman ‘03, the fund supports student financial aid, particularly children of alumnae if appropriate.
The Sister Susan Swain Endowed Financial Aid Fund
Established in 2012 by the St. Mary’s Academy Board of Trustees, Michael Duncan, Chair, in memory of Susan Swain SL. Sister Susan was principal of St. Mary’s Academy Lower School from 1987-2002 and served on SMA’s Board of Trustees from 2004-2012. As a trustee, Sister Susan focused on the future of St. Mary’s Academy while continuing the Loretto School values on which the school was founded. This fund supports student financial aid for Lower School students.
Florence Swanson Named Endowment
Established in 2019 with gifts in loving memory of Florence Swanson, Lower School Principal from 2015 – 2018. This fund supports student financial aid for Lower School students.
Faculty Funds
The Cantwell-Ray Family Endowed Fund for Lower School Faculty Professional Development
Established in 2001 by Dale Cantwell and Pamela Ray, parents of Amelia Cantwell-Ray ‘06 and Elizabeth Cantwell-Ray ‘10, the fund provides Lower School faculty members the opportunity to further their professional growth through seminars, workshops, lectures and continuing education.
Simon and Lanig Family Endowed Fund for Lower School Faculty Professional Development
Established in 2004 by Mark A. Simon and Indira S. Lanig, M.D. in honor of the St. Mary’s Academy Community parents, teachers and community leaders working as a team to develop our children into citizens of the world. This fund supports professional development opportunities for Lower School faculty.
The Edward E. Ford Foundation Endowed Fund for High School Faculty Professional Development
Established in 2001 with a grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation and matching funds from members of the SMA community, the fund supports professional development opportunities for High School faculty.
The Schotters Family Endowed Fund for Middle School Faculty Professional Development
The Trueblood Family Endowment
Established in 1999 with a gift from John Trueblood, the fund honors his father, Harry Trueblood, and supports faculty professional development.
General Endowment Funds
The 1864 Sports Endowment Fund
Established in 2007 by Marsha and Mike Wallace in honor of the Blessed Mother, the fund is designated to support the training of Middle and High School athletes at SMA.
The Judith Dillon Baenen Endowment
Established in 2006 with gifts from throughout the SMA Community in honor of Judith Dillon Baenen ’57, President of St. Mary’s Academy from 1993-2006. This fund was designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the school.
The Pam Bent Endowment
Established in 2017 by Pam Bent, former faculty member and lacrosse coach, via her estate. Annually, 50% of the income of this fund is to be used for athletic facilities and athletic programs and the remaining 50% of the income may be used as St. Mary’s Academy determines.
The Bent Family Endowment
Established in 2004 by Pam Bent, former faculty member and lacrosse coach, and her family in honor of Judith Dillon Baenen ’57, President of St. Mary’s Academy, 1993-2006. This fund was designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Wayne T. “Dusty” Biddle Memorial Endowment Fund
Established in 2006 with gifts in loving memory of Dusty Biddle, father of Belinda Biddle, Barbara “Barbie” Biddle Galoob ’78, and grandfather of Allison Galoob ’07, Austin Galoob MS ’08, and Amy Galoob ’10. Dusty and LaFawn (Board Chair 1984-86) established the Biddle Athletic Fields at St. Mary’s Academy in 2000. This memorial fund is invested in St. Mary’s Academy General Endowment Fund.
The Cain Family Endowment
Established in 2009 with a gift from Jeffrey and Cate Cain Pagliuca, parents of Megan Pagliuca ’ 99, Beth Pagliuca ’07 and James Pagliuca MS ’05. This fund is designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Carr Family Endowment
Established in 2006 with a gift from William and Gracie Carr, parents of Rebecca Carr Davis ’98 and Johanna Carr ‘10. This fund provides support for Middle School-aged girls to participate with St. Mary’s Academy teams in the Gold Crown basketball program.
The Castle Family Endowment
Established in 2008 by Sean and Shara Castle, parents of Maddie Castle ‘18, the fund is designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Deirdre V. Cryor Endowment
Established in 2016 with gifts from the Board of Trustees and other SMA Community Members, this fund honors Deirdre V. Cryor, President of St. Mary’s Academy from 2006-2016. The fund is designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support operating needs of the SMA Community Center, which was built during Deirdre’s tenure.
The Jeannette Smith Eppler Endowment
Established in 2013 with a gift from Gretchen Eppler and Pete Titsworth, parents of Calvin Titsworth MS ‘08. This fund is designed to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Philip A. Hastings, Jr. Memorial Endowment
Established in 2006 with gifts from Stephanie Hastings and Kathleen and Richard Van Dorn in loving memory of Philip A. Hastings, Jr. This memorial fund was designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operation needs of the Academy.
The Jones Family Endowment
Established in 2008 by William “Billy” and Kim Jones, this fund is currently designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Masters Family Endowment for Performing Arts
Established in 2006 by Jerry and Amy Masters, parents of Emily Masters ‘09, the fund is designated to support the various performing arts activities of St. Mary’s Academy.
The Mitchell Family Endowment
Established in 2004 by Victor and Amy Mitchell in honor of their children Lauren Mitchell ‘12, David Mitchell, and Emily Mitchell MS ’02, this fund was designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The O’Rourke Family Endowment Fund
Established in 2004 by Chris and Renee O’Rourke, parents of Kerry O’Rourke ‘15, in memory of mother, Patti O’Rourke, and their sister, Peggy O’Rourke. The O’Rourke Family Endowment was designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy
The Rasmussen Family Endowment
Established in 2004 by Walter and Nijole Rasmussen in honor of Walter’s father, Wallace N. Rasmussen, this fund was designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Margaret M. Reinert Endowment Fund
Established in 2011 from the estate of Margaret M. Reinert ’47, this fund is designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Schaffer Family Endowment
Established in 2009 by Brett and Louisa Schaffer, parents of Samantha Schaffer ’17, Josie Schaffer ’19 and Raquel Schaffer ’21, this fund is designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Swain Family Endowment
Established in 2005 by Sisters of Loretto Mary and Susan Swain in honor of their parents Harry and Helen, this fund is designated to the general endowment of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Swensen Family Endowment Fund
Established in 2008 by Steve and Kris Swensen, parents of Kelli Swensen ‘09, this fund is designated to the general endowment fund of St. Mary’s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Joseph H. Thompson Endowment
Established in 2009 by Brad and Mary Talbot, parents of Betts Talbot ’13, this fund is designated to the general endowment fund of St. Mary’ s Academy to support general operating needs of the Academy.
The Patricia C. Tisdale Memorial Endowment Fund
Established in 2004 with gifts in loving memory of Pat Tisdale, former Board Chair (1991-1994) of St. Mary’s Academy and mother of Sara Tisdale ‘95, Maggie Tisdale ‘00, Vicki Tisdale ‘04, and Doug Tisdale, former Lower School student teacher. This memorial fund is invested in St. Mary’s Academy’s General Endowment Fund