John Carmody '54 Is Forever Gonzaga

John Carmody ’54 was always planning what he could do next to help his beloved Gonzaga.

On a snowy day in February 1973, during an era when Gonzaga had fallen on tough times and there were rumors the school might move or close, John led a small envoy of alumni and parents to Baltimore to lobby the Jesuit Provincial of the Maryland Province to allow Gonzaga to remain open. And remain open Gonzaga would, in its historic Swampoodle home in the center of the nation’s capital.

One year later, John called Gonzaga’s new President Father Bernard Dooley, S.J., on his first day on the job. “Father, Gonzaga needs a gymnasium and it needs it now,” he said. In December 1977 there was much rejoicing on Eye Street as the John J. Carmody Center was dedicated.

After his brother, Kevin ’62, died suddenly in 1984, John, along with others, established the Alumni Association’s Carmody Open Golf Tournament (now the Carmody Lynn Open) in Kevin’s memory. Over the years, the proceeds from the tournament have enabled more than 80 fatherless boys to benefit from a Gonzaga education. In addition, in his decades-long role as the school’s corporate counsel, John and the school’s Presidents and Boards helped make Gonzaga the exemplary Jesuit educational institution it is today.

Yes, John Carmody was always planning how he could help his beloved Gonzaga—even after he was gone.

Shortly after John peacefully passed away in summer 2021, Gonzaga learned that some years ago he had begun investing in a life insurance policy naming his alma mater as beneficiary. Thanks to John’s foresight and enduring devotion, the gift made possible by the policy will allow the Carmody Lynn Endowed Scholarship to provide even more tuition assistance for fatherless boys for many years to come.

Thank you, John Carmody, for all your planning on behalf of generations of Gonzaga men for others to come.

Like John, you, too, can make Gonzaga a part of your legacy with a gift in your estate plan. Contact Daniel P. Costello ’72 at 202-336-7174 (office) or dcostell@gonzaga.org or David Dugan at (202) 370-5354 or ddugan@gonzaga.org to start the conversation today.