Note: This message was originally sent on March 12, 2022
It is an honor to share this story with each of you this morning.
On this “selection Sunday weekend” it is not lost on any Zag, how proud we are of our student-athletes and the realization of how unique this special era is for our community – our families. Here’s to Jaime, Caleb and future teammate, Evander……
Caleb Webster (’04) came to Gonzaga University in 2000 from Billings, Montana, to major in religious studies and minor in classics. He then went to Claremont School of Theology, where he earned his master’s degree in Religion and met Jaime.
“We were shopping for books at the same time,” he explained, “and one of us suggested we share books for the semester.”
Jaime was a graduate of the University of San Diego, so she and Caleb built a friendly West Coast Conference rivalry between them. They attended basketball games together, and before one of them, Caleb proposed at the beach. They held hands in their USD and GU sweatshirts, while fans from both schools took notice of their obvious love for one another.
Caleb and Jaime both shifted paths—she’d originally set out to be a Methodist minister, but instead went to work for a Catholic foundation providing meals for those in need, while Caleb switched gears and went to law school. After graduation, Caleb began working at the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office. Jaime continued her work with the foundation, and the two welcomed Evander to the family in 2014.
A doctor’s appointment the day after the Zags lost the national championship game in 2017 confirmed that Jaime had cancer. Caleb recalled, “After treatment she went into remission, but it came back and then it was really quick.” Jaime passed away on June 16, 2020.
Caleb began writing to his son through a blog, sharing all the emotion and wisdom he could as they navigated this new life together. As Caleb captured his memories of Jaime in this way, he also began thinking about how he could honor her legacy of love and care for others. He decided to make a significant unrestricted gift in her honor to Gonzaga.
“One of our favorite things was to cozy up on a Friday or Saturday night, order a pizza, and watch a Zags game together,” Caleb said. “Gonzaga was a place where I grew and developed, but also a place that she cared so much about. I think she would be honored knowing that this gift in her name will help Gonzaga to continue being a place that feels like home to young people—providing a close community where future Zags can always feel supported.”
“Evander says he’d like to be a Gonzaga basketball player someday,” Caleb laughed, “as long as I can move close by and not be too far away.” Caleb added with a smile, “he promised to get me tickets to the games, too.”