Former president of Ohio Dominican College dies at age 66

Published: 2005-06-23

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNS) -- Dominican Sister Mary Andrew Matesich, one of the longest-serving college presidents in Ohio, died June 15 of breast cancer. She was 66. Her funeral Mass took place June 21 in the chapel at St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus, followed by burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Lockbourne. When she took office in 1978 as president of Ohio Dominican College (now University), Sister Mary Andrew was one of a handful of women college presidents in the country. During her 23 years as president, the school experienced an unprecedented period of growth, expanding from 860 students in 1978 to 2,100 in 2000. During her tenure, Ohio Dominican became the first educational institution in central Ohio to offer weekend classes and started the Learning Enhanced Adult Degree program, both of which make it possible to attend the school while also holding a full-time job. She was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer when she was 54, and it returned when she was 59. The New York Times featured Sister Mary Andrew in a 2004 cover story because of her willingness to undergo experimental, oftentimes painful, cancer treatments.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .