DAVENPORT — Mary Joy Allaert Feeney and Edward Henkhaus ‘64 will be recognized as the 2013 McMullen Award recipients. The awards will be given Dec. 1 at Christ the King Chapel on the St. Ambrose University campus following the annual Feast of St. Ambrose Mass. The Mass begins at 6:30 p.m.
The award is named in honor of St. Ambrose founder Bishop John McMullen and presented annually to individuals who embody the university’s mission of enriching the lives of others.
Allaert Feeney’s family name graces the Allaert Auditorium inside the Galvin Fine Arts Center. As one of the university’s most charitable benefactors, Allaert Feeney’s philanthropy has had a profound impact on the campus and its students, alumni, faculty and staff. Like a true Ambrosian, she also has enriched the lives of fellow Quad Citians by supporting such community-enhancing organizations as the Figge Museum and the Quad City Botanical Center.
St. Ambrose also was blessed by the support of her late husband, John Feeney ‘52, and her father, Wilbur Allaert. After Wilbur Allaert’s death, Allaert Feeney and her brother, Paul Allaert ‘57, honored their father with the naming of the Allaert Auditorium in the Galvin Fine Arts Center. She continues to support the university as a member of the Heritage Roll of Honor and the President’s Club, and as a generous supporter of numerous campaigns that have altered the landscape of St. Ambrose.
Named an honorary Ambrosian in 1998, Allaert Feeney has embodied the spirit of St. Ambrose.
Returning to his alma mater in 1979, Henkhaus dedicated the majority of his career to his alma mater by serving as vice president for finance under President Emeritus Ed Rogalski. Henkhaus helped improve the university’s financial standing, while supporting significant growth of the physical campus and the endowment fund, until his retirement in 2008.
The late Lynne Henkhaus was an active advocate for St. Ambrose, also touching many lives in the Quad-Cities community through her work as a dedicated teacher and reading specialist.
Together, the Henkhauses gave their time, treasure and talents to St. Ambrose in many ways, including as founding members of the President’s Club and Heritage Roll of Honor. They also lent generous support to Assumption High School, the Kahl Home and other organizations supporting Catholic ideals. The Henkhaus’ loyalty and dedication to the university — and community — illustrates a lifelong commitment to enriching lives.
Their daughter, Anne Gannaway, currently serves as director of alumni engagement and special events for St. Ambrose, and son-in-law Ethan Gannaway, Ph.D., is a visiting assistant professor of history, art history and geography, and the executive coordinator of The Academy for the Study of Saint Ambrose of Milan. The family honored Lynne Henkhaus’ love for St. Ambrose by directing memorial gifts in her honor to support the Academy for the Study of St. Ambrose of Milan following her death a year ago.
