The Gift of a Lifetime

Following Decades of Service and Support, Longtime Alumna and Staff Member Mary Bruemmer Left a Portion of Her Estate to Saint Louis University

The indelible mark Mary Bruemmer (A&S ‘42, ‘60) made on Saint Louis University in her more than 100 years of life can be found all across campus — from the Bruemmer Conference Room in DuBourg Hall to Bruemmer Plaza outside Spring Hall or the two campus statues dedicated in her name.

Most importantly, her influence endures in the lives of the people she affected for the better and all those who will benefit from her final gift to SLU: a portion of her estate. Following her generous planned gift of more than $50,000 — which complements a gift in a similar amount she made in 2018 establishing a scholarship for undergraduate students — the School of Education will commemorate Bruemmer's lifelong commitment to SLU by dedicating its heritage wall in her name.

"Mary Bruemmer was the model of what excellence in education should look like,” said Molly Shaller, Ph.D., associate dean and professor of higher education administration in the School of Education. “So many have been impacted by the approach she took, throwing her full self into her calling to educate and serve. We aspire to be like Mary Bruemmer and are honored to count her as a source of light and inspiration for generations of educators to come."

Breaking Barriers, Building Connections

Bruemmer, who first enrolled at SLU in 1938, began making history on campus almost immediately.

Although only 5% of SLU students were women at the time, she soon became the first female editor of the student newspaper and yearbook. Following her graduation — and after working in roles at the Red Cross, the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, and the United Way — she returned to SLU in 1956 to become director of Marguerite Hall, SLU’s first residence hall for women. By 1967, having earned her master’s degree from SLU and already serving as director of housing, she agreed to become dean of women and then SLU’s first dean of students.

View Bruemmer's 100th Birthday Timeline

Decades of quietly influencing SLU’s campus followed. She founded the Saint Louis University Women’s Commission, worked with the Saint Louis University Women’s Council and profoundly shaped SLU’s Oriflamme student group, opening it to women. Among other interests, she was active in the Jesuit honor society Alpha Sigma Nu and cheered on the Billikens with annual season tickets.

Following her “first retirement” from SLU in 1990, she went on to serve the campus in a volunteer capacity for another 26 years. In total, she worked or volunteered under seven University presidents.

"Mary warmly welcomed Fran and me to SLU. We felt blessed to have her as a friend and collaborator," said SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D. "Mary was a singular and transformative figure in our University’s history, and like so many others, we miss her dearly. I am touched by her gift to SLU and heartened that her grace and wisdom will continue to have an impact in our community."

Among other recognitions, Bruemmer:

• Was the inaugural recipient of SLU’s Woman of the Year Award in 1977, an honor that now bears her name
• Received the inaugural Fleur de Lis Award from SLU
• Held an honorary doctorate of humanities from SLU
• Is the only two-time recipient of SLU’s Alumni Merit Award
• Was awarded a papal knighthood in 2016, becoming Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Sylvester, Pope and Martyr

Honoring an Unparalleled History 

A long-time supporter of education and educators, Bruemmer started a scholarship in 2018 to support tomorrow’s teachers. Known as the Mary Bruemmer Endowed Education Scholarship, it assists full-time undergraduate students in SLU’s School of Education, focusing particularly on students minoring in Catholic education.

Support the Mary Bruemmer Endowed Scholarship

An additional fund  — the Women's Council Mary Bruemmer Endowed Scholarship  — renamed in her honor in 2012, benefits undergraduate students across the University and is awarded to more than 10 Billikens annually.

Finding an appropriate way yet again to memorialize someone so influential in SLU's history and who was already widely recognized required much consideration. The heritage wall honors Bruemmer’s gift to the School of Education and her role in its history and the trajectory of education at SLU.

“The wall is a wonderful representation of Mary,” said Bruemmer’s longtime friend and colleague Mary Krieg. “It shows her involvement and commitment to SLU, which is what made her such a benefactor.”