U Magazine, Spring 1987

ALCALA PARK

Legendary actress stars at dinner H elen Hayes played the starring role at the University's annual President's Club dinner January 24. The legendary actress. 86. was pre– sented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to honor her humanitarian. philanthropical and career contributions. Now retired from the stage and movies. Miss Hayes said at a press con– ference before the dinner that she finds excitement in new fields . "My new work is full of surprises - many of them pleasant. And I don 't have to face the press any more, .. she said with a smile to the roomful of reporters and photographers. That "new work" includes serving as a volunteer at an orphanage in Cuer– navaca, Mexico run by Fr. William Wasson. who a lso attended the dinner. The orphanage. Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos. has educated more than 7,000 orphans. "She's been like a mother to the chil– dren." Fr. Wasson said of Miss Hayes. "They reach to her and she reaches back to them." Miss Hayes has worked on fund drives for the orphanage since 1954 and has personally sponsored four "godchil– dren" at the facility. A two-time Academy Award winner and a star of stage. radio, motion pic– ture and television productions, Miss

"My new work isfull of sur– prises ... says legendary actress Helen Hayes.

Hayes was presented with the Presiden– tial Medal of Freedom by President Reagan in 1986. The medal is the nation's highest civilian award. More than 300 attended the black tie dinner. which also featured entertain– ment by 31 ofFr. Wasson'sorphans. The dinner honors the University"s top donors. •

gical music program, hopes the challenge grants will help USD become the West Coast center for liturgical music. The Hahn Foundation interest in USD's program stems from the late Muriel Hahn 's interest in sacred music. Witt is president of the local chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians· Association. • Former president dies in January F r. Russel Wilson, S.J., who served as president of the San Diego College for Men from 1959-61, died January 3 in San Diego. He was 75. Ordained in 1943. Fr. Wilson served as pastor at St. Pius X Church , Jamul: St. Joseph , Holtville ; St. Joan of Arc, Victor– ville; and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ramona: in addition to his tenure as presi– dent of the College for Men. After his retirement in 1978, Fr. Wilson lived in El Cajon. •

Music program could receive $150,000 grant U SD's new liturgical music program may receive up to $150,000 by com– bining two challenge grants offered to the University by the Philip Y. Hahn Foundation and Jerry Witt of San Diego. Under terms of the challenge grant, every dollar donated to the Ii turgical music program will be matched on a dollar-for– dollar basis by the Hahn Foundation to a total of$125,000 and up to $25 ,000 by Witt. Funds generated from the challenge program will be used to develop the liturt– gical music program. Liturgical music is one of several academic programs desig– nated by the University for "flagship" status, meaning funds will be sought to bring those programs to a level of excel– lence. Fr. Nicolas Reveles. who heads the litur-

Fr. Russell Wilson. S.J.

6