UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Rev. Paul Waldschmidt C.S.C.

From Our Past

Waldscmidt PrezA number of the University’s legendary Holy Cross priests passed away over the years during the month of December, including:

  • Father Art Schoenfeldt, C.S.C., died on December 9, 2007 at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Indiana. He was 77 years old. Known to students, alumni, faculty, and staff alike as “Padre,” Fr. Schoenfeldt served and lived at the University of Portland from 1978 until a few months before his death. In the earlier of these years he served as resident director of Christie Hall, but his ministry to students and staff continued through his years of residence in Mehling Hall and at Holy Cross Court. He was a native of Portland and graduated from Columbia Prep when the school was still located on the Bluff. Schoenfeldt Hall, a student residence funded in part by a gift from his family, is named in Padre’s honor.
  • Father Michael O’Brien, C.S.C., died on December 16, 2003, at the age of 92. He had served at the University of Portland as a faculty member in the English department, as chairman of the department, and as vice president for academic affairs from 1969 to 1976. He enjoyed a reputation as a popular, inspiring, and witty member of the University community. He had earlier served as the dean of studies under an older title and as resident director of the Salzburg Program.
  • Father John L. VanWolvlear, C.S.C., died on December 21, 1995 at Notre Dame, Indiana, at the age of 73. He was playing a game of tennis at the time, “and no doubt Van was winning,” according to Rev. George Bernard, C.S.C., in a eulogy for his good friend. Fr. Van, as he was universally called, came to Portland in 1965 and served in several posts, notably as director of admissions. He remained at Portland until 1973 when he was appointed resident director of the Salzburg Program. Many alumni and colleagues will remember his booming voice and habit of roaring with laughter at the conclusion of his many stories.

Also, the Christmas season has always had special meaning to the University, most obviously due to its long association with the fathers and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross. For many years the University hosted an annual Christmas party for children of faculty and staff, complete with visits from Santa Claus. The duty of putting on the Santa suit was shared among University faculty and administrators for many years, and during the 1960s and 1970s the suit was often donned by University president Rev. Paul Waldschmidt, C.S.C. (pictured), who had a special gift for channeling the spirit of Old Saint Nick.

For more information on UP history see the University Almanac at www.up.edu/almanac.

From Our Past

waldschmidt150August 24, 1891 marked the cornerstone dedication of West Hall, home of the Methodist-sponsored Portland University. West Hall, now renamed Waldschmidt Hall, was a five-story multi-purpose structure in “Richardsonian Romanesque” style designed for classrooms, offices, dining and dormitory living. The architects, McCraw, Martin and White, were influenced by the nationally-known architect, H.H. Richardson, and possibly patterned the structure as a simplified version of Sever Hall at Harvard. A Portland architectural commission eventually designated the building an historical landmark in the 1960s. It was red brick with ground floor masonry of random coursed grey stone, approximately 85 by 135 feet, with two projecting bays in front and one in the rear. The chapel, dining hall and kitchen occupied the first floor, while the second floor contained classrooms, offices, and library. The third and fourth floors were used for dormitory purposes with the fifth or attic floor serving eventually as a small game room and scientific laboratory-museum. Methodist Bishop Oscar P. Fitzgerald laid the cornerstone on August 24, 1891, and the construction cost of the building was $32,500, according to the Report of the Oregon Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in August 1892. One of the University’s great iconic structures, West Hall was completely refurbished in 1991-1992 and renamed in honor of Rev. Paul Waldschmidt, C.S.C., who served as president of the University from 1962 to 1978.

For more University history see the University Almanac at www.up.edu/almanac.