The difference will come from here...

Note: This message was originally sent on November 23, 2019

This weekend, we ask for your prayers and well wishes for our inaugural president of the Yakima Gonzaga chapter….Rosemary Rief.   Her family and fellow Yakima Zags are gathering to extend their love and gratitude to her as she battles a terminal illness.    

Rosemary grew up in the Yakima Valley, one of 17 siblings.  She was not able to go to college, she was needed to help the family, so she watched all family and worked.  Then, one day, she decided she was going to college and that was that….she made her way to Spokane, walked through the main doors of College Hall (Ad building!) and found herself in a Jesuit’s office telling him she was going to come to GU.  One problem, though, she did not have enough money to cover tuition!  The Jesuit tapped a box on his desk and said… “no problem, the difference will come from here.” 

Rosemary went on to enroll at GU, graduate and had an impressive career as a legendary guidance counselor in the Yakima valley.  In fact, several years ago, when we asked Zag Nation to share with us “who believed in them,” one of the submissions we received came from a Yakima alumnus reflecting on Rosemary’s role in shaping her life and guiding her to GU.  Fast forward to today, at each and every Gonzaga event in Yakima, Rosemary speaks passionately about a collective expectation for ALL of us to support scholarships.  She even passes around a box and asks everyone to put in something – “even a dollar helps!”  Back up in Spokane, we have grown accustomed to receiving Rosemary’s special envelopes full of scholarship support… tokens of belief… fellow Zags helping those that follow. 

Cy ’60 and Rosemary ’64 (pictured left to right above), married over 50 years now, have given back to Gonzaga in many ways: through their leadership in the Yakima chapter, through donations to scholarships and programs at GU, and by being proud examples of what makes Gonzaga so great. They have hosted hundreds of events, game watches, and chapter service projects. Two of their children, Jennifer Monteleone (’92) and Rachel Suhm (’97), followed in their example and graduated from GU, as well.  Beyond all of this… Rosemary carries with her an amazing twinkle in her eyes… especially when she is hearing someone’s Gonzaga story. 

We’ve got you, Rosemary, your story is solid with us, AND we proudly carry it forward for many Zags to learn from and be inspired by.  Thank YOU for being the “difference” in the lives of hundreds of Zags – our team very much included.