Capt. Margaret C. Donoghue in
May 1979.

In April 2012, the university lost one of its dear nursing alumni… Capt. Margaret Cathlene Donoghue NC, USN, ’54 BSN. Anyone who knew “Maggie” would tell you she was larger than life. Donoghue stood six feet tall and projected herself in a way that demanded attention. Her commanding presence was integral to who she was professionally and personally.

Her tough outer shell was softened by her heart of gold. In her role as director of nursing for several naval hospitals, Donoghue was a teacher and leader. She was concerned for the growth and development of the nurses, hospital corpsmen and others in her charge. There are many nurses around the world who would remember her for giving them the nudge to further their education and pursue a professional degree.

Whether in her role of a patient, provider, or administrator, Donoghue would offer others encouragement and advice. Even when she broke her hip and was convalescing at home, she took the opportunity to encourage her home health provider to return to school.

As an officer Donoghue was an influential member of the Navy Nurse Corps. She always had an eye to the future where it pertained to nursing and health care, particularly in how the role of nurses was evolving and developing. She helped shape personnel policies and was influential in directing how the Navy Nurse Corps evolved as a professional organization. Donoghue identified a need and advocated for the development of the nurse practitioner in adult care as part of the Navy’s nursing program.

As an administrator Donoghue spoke with the patients directly and was involved with the nursing staff. Her management style took her directly into the patient care areas where she interacted with patients and all levels of hospital/clinic staff. It was clear that she was a true advocate for high quality nursing care.

Her career spanned 41 years. The last 28 of which were served with the U.S. Navy. After 12 duty stations all over the country and overseas, Donoghue retired from the Naval Hospital in San Diego in 1986 and continued to live in California. She was an avid sports fan and an accomplished tennis player and golfer.

A native Texan, Donoghue came home one last time for interment at Ft. Sam Houston. Friends from across the country gathered in San Antonio for the services. Afterwards, Donoghue’s friends congregated at the Brackenridge Villa for lunch and a celebration of her life.

Donoghue’s friends will tell you that anyone who knew her benefitted from her generous and giving spirit; that generosity has continued at UIW. Her estate has provided over $600,000 to establish The Capt. Margaret C. Donoghue, NC, USN Nursing Scholarship Endowment. The endowment will provide scholarships to UIW nursing majors seeking undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees in nursing.

Donoghue’s passion for nursing and concern for the betterment of others was indeed larger than life. Although she is no longer with us, through her legacy at Incarnate Word, she will continue to encourage and provide for the growth and development of future generations in nursing.

Seated L-R) Judith Pattinson; Pinky (Joan) Glass; (Standing L-R) Mariann Stratton, former director, Navy Nurse Corps; Syble Horn; Dottie Leonard; Betty Nagy; Elayne Stewart; Tom Nunns; Anne Marie Nelson; Joan Tulich; and Sandra Peppard share a photo at the Brackenridge Villa on June 26, 2012. All but Horn and Stewart are retired Navy Nurses. Donoghue’s friends congregated at the Brackenridge Villa following her memorial services.

Elizabeth Huth Stieren Coates

When my mother, Betty Huth, was a student at Incarnate Word College in 1922, Incarnate Word had everything a fine arts student could ever want,” said Betty Stieren Kelso, UIW Board of Trustees member. “Mother was a music student.”

In 2011, it would be quite a trick to assemble the large number of fine arts students for a photo, or to say that UIW arts students and faculty have everything they could want or even need. More students and more faculty mean more success and more sophisticated needs. Kelso’s ties to the university go way back; her mother, Elizabeth Huth Stieren Coates, attended Incarnate Word High School and began her college education at what is now UIW.

Even then, students were performing and having art shows on and off campus, and long before KUIW, the university’s current Internet radio station, in the early stages of radio, students had their own program.

“She was quite a philanthropist,” Kelso said, explaining that her mother funded the UIW theatre building that still bears her name. “I have always admired the university. It’s different from any other university. It reaches out to all kinds of people.”

Kelso serves on the board’s institutional advancement committee. She is interested in UIW’s many projects, such as the recent renovation of the nursing building and the upcoming construction of a new fine arts building. “These are wonderful programs and are very needed in the community.”

Kelso also sees spiritual needs being met. “I believe strongly in a faith-based education,” she said. “It’s very, very important, and these students are so lucky to have access to that.”

She and her husband, Lt. Col. Robert Kelso, hope Incarnate Word graduates will continue to “care for the things they’ve learned, the respect for other people, to continue their spiritual education and to always have a positive attitude.” It is with that positive attitude that the Kelsos continue the family’s philanthropic tradition at Incarnate Word. Their recent major gift to the Fine Arts campaign proves just that, and they extend an invitation for others to join them in generously providing for the future of the arts at UIW and in all San Antonio.

Sr. Claude Marie Faust (from left), Gayle Sette '73, daughter Megan, and Sr. Theresa McGrath enjoy one another’s company in 1993.

Gayle Biehunko Sette graduated summa cum laude from Incarnate Word College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. She went on to earn a master’s in computing science from Texas A&M University. After a successful career, she recently retired after 30 years with IBM.

A native of Shiner, Texas, Sette was able to attend Incarnate Word with the help of scholarships. Through the gifts of others, Sette was able to achieve her goals and dreams, so she wanted to give other students the same opportunities.

With the help of UIW Planned Giving Director Diane Echavarria, Sette established a scholarship endowment through her estate plan. To honor two of her favorite teachers, she created the Sr. Theresa McGrath and Sr. Claude Marie Faust Endowed Scholarship.

“Sr. Theresa was the most cheery, caring and enthusiastic instructor ever encountered at 8 o’clock in the morning,” Sette recalled. “Her office door was always open to discuss a puzzling math problem.” The alumna also remembered the late Sr. Claude Marie’s twinkling blue eyes, patient smile, and ability to explain the complexities of linear algebra or number theory.

The endowed scholarship is funded through a retirement account simply created by adding UIW as a beneficiary on the retirement account. After the lifetimes of Gayle and her husband, Tom, the funds will create this scholarship. UIW welcomes the Settes as members of the Verbum Society and another legacy in the making!

If you would like information on making gifts such as these, contact Diane Echavarria in the Planned Giving Office at dmechava@uiwtx.edu or 210-829-6071.