- Date Of Birth: April 19, 1942
- Date Of Death: December 7, 2021
- State: Indiana
David Michael Morrissey
April 19, 1942 – December 7, 2021
David grew up in Santa Barbara, California and graduated Airforce ROTC from Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) in 1964. He met Bonnie on a blind date during his first year of college and they were married in August of 1963. Dave took a deferment from service to earn an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1966. He then began a four-year tour with the United States Air Force. Dave first served as a missile launch officer at Ellsworth Airforce base, Rapid City, South Dakota; and then he and Bonnie returned to California in 1968, with two young children in tow, where Dave took on the role of instructor for future missile men at Vandenberg Airforce Base. He received an honorary discharge in 1970 at the rank of Captain. Dave went on to a career in higher education with a position at Loyola, where he worked for ten years, initially in alumni relations and then as Director of Development at the Law School.
Dave’s affection for the University of Notre Dame came from his father, a Boston native who often referred to that city as a “province of Ireland.” He loved the Red Sox and Notre Dame, and instilled Dave with a devotion to both from an early age.
Dave loved his work in Catholic higher education, and he knew that Notre Dame had a Los Angeles regional development office. One day on his lunch hour, Dave visited that office and soon after had his dream job. Starting in August of 1980, Dave ran the west coast development office for the University of Notre Dame over the next 16 years. During that time, Bonnie and Dave’s four children had the opportunity to earn Notre Dame degrees: Kevin ’86, Kimberly ’88, Colleen ’92, ’97 J.D., and Dennis ’93.
Over the years, Dave’s desire to work on campus “under the Golden Dome” grew. In 1996, Dave was offered a position on campus and he and Bonnie relocated from Southern California to South Bend. Altogether, he worked on behalf of Our Lady’s University for 32 years, retiring on March 31, 2012, as Assistant Vice President for University Relations. He received numerous commendations from the University during his tenure, including a Special Presidential Award given in 1991 for his work in higher education and as Los Angeles regional director. In 1996 he was made an honorary alumnus by the Alumni Association for “15 years of service to the Notre Dame Development Department and for outstanding leadership in the advancement of the West Coast region.”
Dave was predeceased by his loving parents, William and Louisa Morrissey and his infant son, Terrence Patrick Morrissey. He is survived by his dear sister, Linda Bregante; his adoring wife Bonnie; his four children – Kevin Morrissey (Jean), Kimberly Biagini (Randy), Colleen Haas (Matthew) and Dennis Morrissey (Monica); his 11 precious grandchildren – Kelly Morrissey, Jillian Barwick, Kendra Barwick, Erin Morrissey, Ryan Morrissey, Kienan Morrissey, Jackson Haas, Shane Morrissey, Teague Morrissey, Alexandra Haas and Kelsea Haas; and many nieces and nephews.
Dave and Bonnie celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on August 31, 2021.
