DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Longtime University of Dayton Trustee Mary Civille "Sue" Wesselkamper has died at her home in Honolulu, the university announced Monday, Jan. 5. She was 66.

The cause was complications from cancer.

Mrs. Wesselkamper shepherded unprecedented growth at Chaminade University of Honolulu, where as president she led Hawaii's only Catholic university for 13 years, according to University of Dayton officials, adding that she brought the Marianist school "from the brink of financial crisis to extraordinary expansion with vision, energy, grace and an infectious passion."

Mrs. Wesselkamper grew up near the UD campus and graduated from Julienne High School.

She had served on UD's board of trustees since 2000.

"Sue was a friend and a tremendous leader who will be sorely missed," UD President Daniel J. Curran said.

"I always admired her energy, enthusiasm, passion — and her outstanding work at Chaminade University."

Under Mrs. Wesselkamper's leadership, UD officials said, Chaminade's enrollment soared from 600 to approximately 2,800.

A recent fundraising campaign attracted $66 million.

In December, Chaminade conferred upon her an honorary degree, renamed a science building on campus the Wesselkamper Science Center and established two endowed scholarships in her name.

"Sue is genuinely loved by faculty, staff and students," Bro. Bernard Ploeger, S.M., Chaminade's acting president, said at the time of the honor.

Joseph Saliba, interim UD provost, and Bro. Raymond L. Fitz, S.M., Ferree professor of social justice and former UD president, are expected to travel to Hawaii for the funeral.

Before joining Chaminade University, Mrs. Wesselkamper served as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the College of New Rochelle in New York.

She held a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan and a doctorate in social work from New York University.

Survivors include her husband, Tom; daughter, Suzanne; and son, David.

A wake and visitation will be 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, in the Mystical Rose Oratory on Chaminade's campus.

A Eucharist of Resurrection will be celebrated at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at St. Patrick's Parish in Honolulu.