Note: This message was originally sent on January 9, 2019
Today would have been Harry Sladich’s 81st birthday. Marguerite and Harry served the GU community for 47+ years…..in honor of Harry’s day and their great legacy, we think you all might enjoy this update about a special project that many were part of creating…
Harry H. and Marguerite Sladich Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2001 by Trustees, Regents and the Sladich’s many friends, in honor of Harry and Marguerite’s service to Gonzaga University. To date, the Harry H. and Marguerite Sladich Scholarship has made 20 awards to eight individual students.
Harry (‘59 BA BUSAD) was a proud member of the DeSmet 108 Club/Butte Rats. Immediately after college he spent some time working for the Anaconda Company, but by 1962 he returned to Spokane to work at Gonzaga. He earned his MBA in Business Administration in 1967. Harry received a Distinguished Alumni Merit Award in 1996 and was acting president in 1991 and 1997-98. Harry retired as the vice president of administration and planning in 2001, but remained active as the secretary for the Board of Trustees and Board of Regents, secretary for the corporation of Gonzaga University and as Vice President. The Board of Trustees honored him as a trustee emeritus when he retired from full-time work. Harry was instrumental in setting up the 108 Club (scholarship) Endowment. The 108 Club is a group of men primarily from the classes of 1959 through 1960 who lived in DeSmet. Several of the men were from Montana (hence the Butte Rats nickname). This group has remained close since graduation, in fact they meet, at least annually, during the WCC tournament in Las Vegas. Our alumni chaplain, Steve Hess, now joins the annual gathering and provides a blessing and university message.
Marguerite moved with Harry to Spokane in 1961 when Harry took a position with Gonzaga University. Marguerite opened her arms and heart to the Gonzaga community and she quickly became an integral part of the fabric of Gonzaga, which lasted until the day she died in December 2015. Upon her passing, Marguerite’s family shared the following reflection of this remarkable person…..”We always were told how nice our mom was and how wonderful she made people feel. Mom was an awesome homemaker and was an accomplished seamstress and baker, her pie crust has never been (nor ever will) be replicated. Mom was a constant force in our lives and was home every day with us. Our family had dinner at the dining room table each and every night when our dad arrived home from work and we never missed one Sunday morning mass. She had a great sense of humor and a fantastic sense of style. She loved to travel and she and dad made a point of seeing many countries. Her favorite was Rome and seeing the Pope. She was very close to her siblings and, therefore, we were very close with them and to our cousins. Family first was the order of the day and we now celebrate our bi-annual Dill family reunion with an attendance of almost 75 relatives, who are fondly known as the "Dill Pickles" (mom's maiden name). Mom was an active volunteer working with Meals on Wheels and at the MAC and was a member of the Greater Gonzaga Guild. She loved Gonzaga Basketball attending games up until 2014 and fondly remembered travelling to the NCAA tournaments on the plane with my dad and the team. She had a deep sense of faith and it was that faith that kept her strong all through her life and at peace in her final moments. We would like to especially thank the Gonzaga University family for the generosity and companionship they have showed our mother.”