Sue Wesselkamper
Author: YWCA
May 29, 2009
Dr. Mary Civille (Sue) Wesselkamper
Former President, Chaminade University
Lifetime Achievement
The YWCA of O’ahu is proud to recognize Dr. Mary Civille (Sue) Wesselkamper, former president of Chaminade University and YWCA Board member, with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Sue will be honored by her community posthumously at the YWCA’s 32nd LeaderLuncheon on June 19, 2009.
Active in our community, Sue was the first woman to preside over a university in Hawaii, the first to head a Marianist sponsored university, and at the time of her appointment, one of about two dozen lay women who were presidents of Catholic colleges and universities nationally. In Hawaii, Sue served on the Marianist Center of Hawaii, the Hawaii P-20 Council, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the Health Systems Corporation Oahu Region Board of Directors. Because of her accomplishments, and the way in which she achieved them, Sue was named Pacific Business News’ “Women Who Mean Business Businesswoman of the Year Award” in 2008.
President Sue, as she was called, inspired countless young men and women, took a personal interest in every student and was an encouraging presence in the lives of everyone on Chaminade University’s campus.
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So difficult to do this pioneer justice without writing a novel. Tears sting my eyes just thinking about her legacy.
Sue became president of my alma mater at a critical time. The community asset that Chaminade provides our state has a great deal of equity because of her work as its ambassador. She inspired me to return to Chaminade as a teacher for several years.
Every time I would meet Sue out in the community she would go out of her way to inquire how our business was with genuine interest. She always looked out for students from the Pacific Islands, and took special care of those of us from small island communities. Her spirit drew many bright stars from the Marianas and Micronesia. I saw many of them at Sue’s services. I had just returned to the campus because my high school classmate from Guam decided on Chaminade for her daughter interested in becoming a doctor. I remember telling her about Sue, about how well her daughter would be served by Chaminade. My next visit was for Sue’s service.
Chaminade was a client for a short time, and working with Sue was a joy. Several of my classmates and I were invited to dinner at Sue’s home. She was looking at the Communication program, wanting to be sure the school was on the right track. She took so much time looking at the details behind the big picture. It’s something that’s made a lasting impression on me.
I knew the day would come when her illness would overtake her, but she showed such strength and contributed so much for so much longer than any of us expected. I’m so pleased to see her legacy honored by the YWCA of O’ahu. There’s a lot to be learned from this woman leader.
Comment by Barbra Pleadwell — May 29, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
To everyone she was known simply as Sue - Dr. Wesselkamper was too formal. I was lucky enough to spend lunch with her on a couple of occasions, when I was just finished from the MBA program at Chaminade and still trying to figure things out.
Her greatest gifts to me were her time and her wisdom. I am forever impacted by how she took genuine interest in our conversation, how she showed up as herself, and her parting words to me the last time we talked: “Don’t ever stop wanting to learn. Be fascinated and curious about everything. It’s how we find our Purpose in Life…One day, you will find yourself sitting across a young woman and you will tell her the same thing.”
Comment by Marlene Zeug — June 3, 2009 @ 11:19 am