Gonzaga came into Genevieve “Tudy” Edmonds’ life by way of a chance connection, but it became one she remained passionate about all through her life. Her husband passed away at a young age, leaving her to raise their son, William “Bill”, on her own as a working mom at the Mobil Oil Company. Also working for Mobil in Houston was the brother of Monsignor James Ribble, who recommended that Bill attend Gonzaga University. Bill applied and decided to attend Gonzaga sight unseen. He studied political science and served as sports editor and a columnist for the Bulletin. Bill graduated in 1972, later receiving his law degree from Notre Dame and eventually working for the federal government in Washington, D.C.
When Bill became ill due to complications of melanoma, he and Tudy discussed the importance of giving back through scholarship. Bill succumbed to cancer in 1991. In 1994, his mother established the William E. Edmonds scholarship in his honor. Since the establishment of the scholarship, Tudy regularly contributed funds, which were also matched by her employer.
“I am very proud to be a retiree of this wonderful charitable corporation for over 25 years. They made a dream come true for both Bill and me,” said Tudy.
She loved to receive notes from the recipients of Bill’s scholarship and felt strongly that her continued connection to Gonzaga kept her close to her son.
“This helps fill the void in my life,” she wrote, “especially since the recipients are so grateful. I know Bill is very pleased.” One scholarship recipient’s father, Bud Ayers of Pasco, Wash., sent Tudy an original watercolor painting entitled, “Creation – Mother and Child,” along with a note of gratitude. She treasured the painting for years, later deciding it should be at Gonzaga. Tudy sent the painting to Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., who gratefully accepted the gift and hung the painting in his office while he was president of Gonzaga.
Tudy liked to share the notes of thanks she received from students. She called often to check in on her donations and the recipients of Bill’s scholarship. At one point, those calls stopped coming. Tudy Edmonds passed away on April 20, 2013.
Tudy had a surprise up her sleeve: through a provision in her will, she made one more extremely generous gift toward Bill’s scholarship. Her estate gift and her lifetime of annual giving ensure that many more men and women can experience Gonzaga for years to come.