Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump
On May 17, 2009, at the Spring Commencement, the newly renovated and expanded Saint Xavier University library was renamed "The Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library."
Mr. and Mrs. Stump's philanthropic spirit and affection for Saint Xavier University included real estate for the former Orland Park campus and financial gifts, including a gift to the Mercy Endowment Challenge.
Robert and Mary Rita Stump also were honored with Doctor of Public Service degrees, honoris causa, during the 2009 Commencement ceremony. They exemplify the mission and core values of Saint Xavier University, and the University is honored by their historic support.
Hassan S. Haddad and Dr. Safia Haddad
Hassan S. Haddad, the seventh president of the Association of Arab-American University Graduates and one of its founders, passed away in Chicago in May of 1998 from a long-standing illness. As per his request, he was cremated and his ashes wree scattered in Bloudan Mountain in his beloved Syria.
To all those who knew him, his passing came as a great shock. Husni, as he instructed us to call him, was not only an inspiration to us, he was also a mentor. If you were fortunate enough to have known him, you would agree that a great man and a gentle spirit has departed this world.
Husni's name has been associated for many years with two great Chicago educational institutions, namely the University of Chicago and Saint Xavier University. It was at the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute where he received a Ph.D. in the Humanities in 1962, and it was at Saint Xavier University that he was Chair of the Division of Social Sciences for twelve years. He retired in 1996 as Professor of History. Both of these institutions were enriched by his humanity, his rich scholarship, and his towering intellect.
Husni's scholarly interests covered a wide terrain, for example Arabic music, Eastern Christianity, Islamic studies, Asian religions, modern Arab history, and Arabic poetry. He continued to pursue his Arabic poetical interests through his activities with Chicago's Arab Cultural Club. He co-edited for the AAUG Press, with the late Basheer K. Nijim, a valuable reference work titled: The Arab World: A Handbook. He also contributed a piece to another work edited by Nijim, namely: American Church Politics And The Middle East.
He collaborated with Don Wagner on a work titled: All In The Name Of The Bible. His most ambitious work, however, was the Arabic language study titled: Ba'al Haddad; Dirasah fi al-Tarikh al-Dini al-Suri (The Lord Haddad; A Study in Syrian Religious History). The study appeared in 1993 and was based on his original doctoral dissertation.
The Haddad Room is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Hassan (Husni) and Dr. Safia Haddad, friends and colleagues of the Saint Xavier University community. They devoted their lives to the causes of peace, social justice, and cultural understanding, and created the Hassan (Husni) and Safia Haddad Peace Award and Scholarship. Husni died in 1998, leaving behind a legacy of commitment to truth and social justice for all people. Funding for the Room was provided by his wife and professor emerita, Dr. Safia Haddad, and their son Dr. Waleed (Lee) Haddad. The Haddad Conference Room was dedicated on June 26, 2003. The Library lost a good friend and colleague when Madame Haddad died in 2011. The Haddad Conference Room contains the music scores collection and selected music book materials. It is one of the most popular study locations in the Library. (The photos of the Haddads are from the 1977 Saint Xavier College yearbook.)
