It was the first day of classes at Gonzaga in 1981 when freshmen Ann Herriman (’85) and Tony Waltier (’85) met in Father Kuder’s Old and New Testament class. From that moment forward, Ann and Tony were together. They were together for all four years at Gonzaga, and together, they planned to get married on June 8, 1985, after graduation.
“Unfortunately,” said Ann, “God had a different plan for us.” On April 15, 1985, Tony was diagnosed with Lymphoma. It was a devastating blow to the young couple and Gonzaga wanted to help.
“All of Tony’s professors excused him from his finals and he was told not to worry about the remaining balance he owed for tuition,” Ann said. “That was amazing for us, as he was paying for school by himself and would now be facing huge medical bills.” Tony walked in the graduation ceremony with Ann and the rest of the class.
“His cap covered his cute bald head,” Ann remembers with a smile.
Originally, the plan was to have Fr. Kuder marry them, but the wedding had to be postponed. Instead, they had a celebration mass and a healing of the sick blessing with their families. After what Ann calls a “horrible year” of chemotherapy, radiation and prayers from all over the world, Tony’s Lymphoma was finally gone.
Today, the Waltiers maintain a close bond with the place that brought them together and helped them through such a difficult time.
“Gonzaga has meant so much to us,” she said, “and we could not have been happier when both of our children decided to follow in our footsteps.” Sophie Waltier graduated in 2013 and Anthony (’17) is just finishing up his freshman year. “I have tried to describe the Gonzaga feeling to others,” said Ann, “but I have never been able to find the right words to express the amazing sense of community and love that all our fellow alums feel for our alma mater. I remember when Gonzaga lost a basketball game and Adam Morrison fell to the court in tears; many people could not understand his emotion, but all of the Gonzaga family watching knew what he was feeling – his heart was Gonzaga. It is truly a blessed place.”
Gonzaga is grateful for the Waltier family. Their connection and commitment to the University is both inspiring and a blessing. Ann and Tony have shown a lot of love to Gonzaga by making gifts to the Fund for Gonzaga, the Gonzaga Scholars program, Gonzaga Athletics and more. If you would like to celebrate your connection to Gonzaga by supporting the University and its students, please visit gonzaga.edu/proudzagsgive to make your gift today.