The St. Thomas community gathered in the Lower Quad Tuesday for a farewell ceremony honoring university president the Rev. Dennis Dease as he prepares to finish his 22nd and final year at the helm of the institution.

Campus Life Director Margaret Cahill said she was delighted with the outcome of the event after planning it for more than year.

“It went off beautifully,” Cahill said. “We had a fantastic student committee that worked so hard and got so many students involved. It was such a pleasure to work with those students to honor Father Dease in such a way.”

Students, faculty and staff lined the Lower Quad sidewalks as Dease zig-zagged his way through the crowd to the podium on the John P. Monahan Plaza. Dease was accompanied by students bearing flags from around the world, representing St. Thomas’ diverse community.

Former Undergraduate Student Government president Mike Orth and HANA member Jessica Algoo introduced Dease.

Algoo, who was on the planning committee for the event, admitted in her speech that she had not met Dease before the event, but said after hearing about him for so long, it was nice to finally put a personality behind one of the university’s most popular faces.

“We really wanted to do Father Dease justice because he’s given us 22 years of his life,” Algoo said. “We did a lot of research about him, and after doing that for so long, it’s like meeting this famous figure you know all about. He’s a very warm man and was friendly and forthcoming … it was a wonderful experience.”

Overall, Dease said the event was “moving,” and he was thankful to be a part of such a loving community.

“The program was very beautiful, and I was so surprised how well it was organized right down until the end,” Dease said. “Clearly I’m going to miss these students. That’s a no-brainer.”

Dease was presented with an engraved plaque similar to the one that will mark a tree planted in his honor in the upcoming months. Algoo said she isn’t certain when the tree will be planted, but hopes that it comes soon.

“We’ve only very recently had it approved because of the weather, and that’s why we’re still debating over what kind of tree it will be,” Algoo said. “We’ll try and get the tree planted in May, if not during the summer, and the plaque will quickly follow.”

Dease was also honored with a map of the world signed by St. Thomas international students.

The St. Thomas Festival Choir honored Dease with multiple songs including “Thanks,” which the choir originally performed at October’s Opening Doors Campaign(link) gala.

Junior Lesley Salz, a member of the choir, said it was an honor to be able to sing for Dease’s farewell celebration.

“He was really appreciative and turned around afterward and thanked us all personally, so that was a nice bonus,” Salz said. “It shows that he does care about each individual student, and I’m happy I got to be a part of that song.”

After making his speech to the student body, Dease took time to shake hands and take pictures with members of the community.

Sophomore Corey Stephan enjoyed the event and paid close attention to Dease’s speech.

“Father Dease’s words were certainly inspirational,” Stephan said. “He’s clearly a very faith-centered man and very proud of this institution.”

When asked about his future plans, Dease first joked, “Maybe I’ll get a Harley, some tattoos and head out to Sturgis, S.D. The average age out there will be at least five or six years older than I am.”

With jokes aside, Dease said he will likely stay close with the university as president emeritus, acting as an adviser to president-elect Julie Sullivan.

Dease said with his new tree planted in the Lower Quad, he would like to stick around St. Thomas for some reading in the shade.

“It’s giving me an incentive to stay around until the tree has leaves for me to sit under and grab a nice book,” Dease said. “That, I am going to do.”

Alex Goering can be reached at goer8777@stthomas.edu.