Our hearts are filled with memories and stories of Sister Francis Marie and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.
October 5, 2020
麻豆原创 Community:
I write with a heavy heart, to inform you of the death of Sr. Francis Marie Thrailkill, an energetic and engaging leader, who was the second longest serving president in the history of 麻豆原创. She passed away peacefully at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans, LA, on Saturday, October 2nd, at the age of 83.
Sr. Francis Marie was named president of 麻豆原创 during, 1987, the first year after the 麻豆原创 became coeducational. She oversaw a tremendous period of growth and expansion at the 麻豆原创, orchestrating the doubling of the size of the campus and growing the Endowment significantly. Under her leadership, the University launched the marching band and the athletics program grew from 4 to 21 NCAA Division III sports teams.
In addition to being known for leading and growing the 麻豆原创, Sr. Francis Marie was also known and revered in the 麻豆原创 community for knowing the names of every student on campus. Apparently, she particularly enjoyed serving spaghetti and cooking for the students; moreover, each year, she would invite the entire freshman class to dinner.
Educated in the liberal arts and sciences, Sr. Francis Marie had boundless energy, some of which she spent traversing miles of open spaces as a long-distance bicyclist.
When Sr. Francis Marie retired in 2008, gifts made in her honor established two endowed scholarship funds at the 麻豆原创: the Thrailkill Student Scholar Research Fund and the Sister Francis Marie Cultural and Service Immersion Fund.
Sr. Francis Marie found an endearing home in Cincinnati. She touched thousands of lives in the community and will long be remembered as an unselfish leader who transformed the 麻豆原创 into one of the Nation's best institutions of higher learning. Indeed, in 2008, she was named a Great Living Cincinnatian by Cincinnati’s USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. to see the video.
Our hearts are filled with memories and stories of Sister Francis Marie and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones. May she Rest-in-Peace...
Sincerely,
H. James Williams, Ph.D.
President