Memorial & Honor Funds

James A. Connolly

Jim Connolly was a partner with Connolly Tacon & Meserve in private practice with the law firm since 1978. His family first settled in the Olympia area in 1870. Jim graduated from Gonzaga University and Willamette Law School and served as an adjunct instructor with the South Puget Sound Community College Paralegal Program.

Jim’s service to our local community included positions on the board of the Olympia Heritage Commission, including as chair, SPSCC’s Paralegal Program Advisory Committee and TAMARC (Thurston and Mason Addictions Recovery Council). Jim was also former chair of the St. Michael School Commission. He and his wife Cathy raised two daughters who are graduates of St. Michael School and Bellarmine Preparatory School.

Jim served as Vice President of the Board of Pope John Paul II High School until shortly before his death. Jim’s dedication to his community was exemplary and his commitment to Catholic education provided critical insights and guidance in the early years of the effort to open Pope John Paul II High School. His legacy continues int he lives of the young people who are being formed as future leaders of the community Jim so faithfully served.

Says Scott Euteneier, former board member, “the high school, among other institutions in town, benefited from his involvement. He was a critical thinker in the early formation of the board. His suggestions–only made after hearing all sides of a particular challenge–were always helpful, insightful and moved the organization incrementally toward the finish line. He never lost sight that the goal was to provide a quality option for the kids of our community. He had a wonderful, entertaining grasp of the history of this community and was able to place the school in that context.”

Dr. W.J. and Donna Dugaw

Dr. W.J Dugaw

Dr. W.J. Dugaw left an impressive legacy of service to God, his fellow man, his country, and his family.

Dr. Dugaw attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from W.F. West High School in 1940. He attended the University of Portland, served in the United States Army during World War II, and graduated from Marquette University School of Medicine in 1947. Following his internship at Providence Hospital in Seattle, he began practicing medicine in Winlock and Toledo, serving those communities from 1948 until his retirement in 1984.

In June of 1947 he married the love of his life, Donna Lund of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with whom he shared the remainder of his life. Since 1984, he and Donna have resided outside of Olympia on Eld Inlet.

Dr. Dugaw was devoted to the service of God, was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Toledo, Washington, and later was a member of St. Michael Parish in Olympia. He was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and lived his life as an instrument of peace in accord with the prayer of St. Francis.

He loved the pursuit of knowledge and was an expert on history, specializing on the study of the Civil War. He water-skied; cross-country skied, gardened, golfed with his sons, and enjoyed fishing with his friends. Dr. Dugaw was known for his strength of character, honesty, sense of humor, love of family and community, compassion, service, and hard work.

He never took himself, or anyone else for that matter, too seriously.

Most importantly to him, he loved his family. He instilled in his children the love of God, the importance of the pursuit of knowledge, and the value of service to the community. His overriding goal in life was to make this part of the planet a better place because he was here.

He did so.

Donna Mary Lund

Donna Mary Lund was born September 26, 1924 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  She was valedictorian of her high school class and was capped as a registered nurse with a distinction in surgical nursing from Misericordia Hospital in Milwaukee.

In 1947, Donna married Dr. W. J. Dugaw in Chehalis, with whom she shared her life until he died in 2006.  Donna devoted herself to supporting her husband and raising their large family.  She was well know for her creativity, which included exquisite baking and cooking, painting, clothing design and decorating.  Donna opened her home to anyone in need of a family.  As a result, her family included international and boarding school students as well as her children and all of their friends.

Donna dedicated herself to God and the Catholic Church.  She was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Toledo for nearly 40 years.  There, she taught Christian education, served as an organist and choir director, arranged flowers and helped organize wedding receptions and other parish events. After moving to Olympia, she participated in pastoral ministries at St. Peter’s Hospital and was an active member of St. Michael Parish.  As a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, she was a tireless contributor to her faith communites and served God in all she did.

The Dugaws are survived by 12 children, 18 grand children, and 3 great grandchildren.

Lovel Briere

Lovel’s lifelong career of volunteering and community service began at a very early age by shoveling snow for neighbors and continued for the rest of his life. Some of his many accomplishments include:

• One of the founding families of Holy Family School
• Recipient of Holy Family School’s “Humanitarian Award,” (later renamed “Lovel Briere Distinguished Humanitarian Award”)
• Recipient of the Knights of Columbus Washington State and International Family of the Year Awards for his service to the Catholic Church
• Recipient of the “Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year Award” (later renamed “Lovel Briere Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year Award”)
• Founder of the Bernie Tourney, a golf tournament to raise funds for Catholic education
• Smokey the Bear in the pet parade for 36 years
• Softball and basketball coach
• Actively involved in the Respect for Life movement
• Started the Veteran’s Appreciation Dinner to honor vets
• Member of the Victorious Missionaries to provide spiritual support for persons with disabilities and their family and friends
• Ran the concession stand at St. Martin’s University donating his paycheck to the Bernie Briere scholarship fund
• Member of Holy Name Society
• Member and past district deputy and Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus (Fr. Nicholas Rausch OSB Council #1643)
• 2006 Capital Lakefair Grand Parade Marshal
• Tree of Life member for blood donation over 200 times
• Active fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to bring awareness and some day a cure for the disease that took the life of three of his children.

MR. A. M. P. BOPEGEDERA AND MRS. P. BOPEGEDERA

Although he was not a Catholic, Mr. Bopegedera was educated in a Catholic school (St. Thomas College, Matale, Sri-Lanka). He worked for the Federal Government of Sri-Lanka in many different capacities and retired as the Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of the Department of Social Services. He often said, “Catholic schools transform children’s lives.”

Mrs. Bopegedera was a school teacher who specialized in elementary education. She spent the majority of her working life in an inner-city school teaching kids whose parents had difficulty supporting their needs. Towards the end of her teaching career, she transferred to Saint Thomas College (Kotte, Sri-Lanka), closer to her home town.

Mr. and Mrs. Bopegedera deeply believed in the faith- and value-based education provided by Catholic schools, and supported them generously. They spent a significant portion of their financial resources to educate their children at St. Bridget Convent, Colombo and continued to invest in all their grandchildren’s education in Catholic schools. In 1990, an annual academic achievement award was established at St. Bridget’s Convent by their daughters in honor of their parents.

In memory of these dedicated parents, their children, together with their spouses and grandchildren have established a memorial fund to support the Pope John Paul II High School in Olympia and invite family and friends to support this effort.

Patricia (Pat) Hruska

Pat will be remembered as being a devoted wife and an inspirational supporter to her family and to all those who came to know her. Married for nearly 50 years, Pat always put the needs of her family and community members first. She was a homemaker and also worked as a Montessori teacher, parish secretary, sales associate, medical insurance claims processor and an assistant manager. Pat was the mother of three children and grandmother of two. During her life, Pat made the time to be active in service organizations and parishes wherever she resided.

Pat viewed children as a blessing. She treasured the time she had to teach and guide them in the Montessori classroom, in the Camp Fire Girls organization, during sacramental preparation and other faith formation. She took great delight in teaching her own children and grandchildren the Catholic faith, the wonder of nature, history and reading. She used daily activities and family trips as learning opportunities and made sacrifices so that her children could attend Catholic schools and earn college degrees. Pat enjoyed seeing children do their best in all things, including sports, and would encourage them by wildly cheering from the sidelines.

Pat believed prayer is a strong and meaningful exercise of love, faith and hope. She also believed in honoring the sacrements and doctrine of the Catholic church. In her retirement, Pat nurtured her prayer life knowing prayer is one of the greatest contributions we can offer one another. She attended daily mass and utilized the opportunity to meditate regularly in the St. Joseph’s Adoration Chapel. She participated in Catholic education classes and became a Eucharistic Minister.

Pat also used her time to advocate for others. She was very active in pro-life efforts through her dedicated work in speaking out and standing up for life. She volunteered countless hours with the following organizations: Human Life of Thurston County, Show the Truth Washington, 40 Days for Life in Olympia, Respect Life at St. Michael Parish, and Knights of Columbus Knight’s Lady. She indeed was a witness to the beauty, grace and dignity of human life.

Pope John Paul II said (October 16, 1978), “Do not be afraid. Open, rather open wide, the doors to Christ.” Pat’s life, with her graceful trust of God’s plan, is an example of what Pope John Paul II called us all to achieve. She led others to Christ. In confidence we know Pat’s prayers for the success of Pope John Paul II High School continue.

Thomas D. Quinn

Tom Quinn devoted his life to working with families and children.  He loved learning, had a strong commitment to the Church, and supported Catholic education.  He believed that the purpose of education is to create good human beings and saw it as the key to enriching the mind and character of children and developing the next generation of curious and socially aware adults.

Through his foundation work, Tom generously supported St. Michael School in Olympia and Pope John Paul II High School.  The Thomas D. Quinn science laboratory was named in his honor.

William E. Bakse, Jr.

William E. Bakse, Jr., father of Jackson Bakse (Class of 2014) spent his career serving his country and fellow soldiers in the Army, retiring as an ordnance officer and logistician. He was a loving and stalwart leader, the rock of his extended family. He continued his career of service as a military contractor around the world, tending to soldiers, multi-national employees, and colleagues. In times of real uncertainty, pursing work that was very challenging, Bill lived a life in which faith was a cardinal element of character and service an essential part of leadership. He believed, and often said, “the Good Lord will take care of us”. William E. Bakse, Jr. passed away on October 11, 2009.

On August 6, 2013 the William E. Bakse, Jr. Fund was established in his memory by Bill’s mother, Meredith L. Carey and wife, Teresa Bakse. The William E. Bakse, Jr. Fund, JPII’s first endowed fund, provides financial support to individual students when their family’s resources preclude them from full participation in school academic, spiritual, athletic or co-curricular life.

Gary William Allin Memorial Scholarship Fund

Gary is survived by his mother, sister Nancy Allin, brother Marvin Allin, and twin sister Mary Phelps, and by his wife, daughters, and grandson John Paul Bohlig.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Gary William Allin Memorial Scholarship Fund at JPII.