Mike Donnelly ’70: Leadership skills and faith traditions that last a lifetime

by Greta Cunningham '23, Communications Intern

Tell me about your experience at Cretin. 

I worked my tail off to be a good student and do well academically, but I enjoyed it. I’m still actively involved with the Class of ’70 as a Class Representative, and we have great participation. Our 55-year reunion is coming up, which is a remarkable length of time. I met my wife, who went to Derham Hall, in high school and got married after college. 

I played varsity baseball, was the Vice President of the student council, and a company commander in the military program, which meant I oversaw about 250 other kids. 

It was an interesting time to be in high school. It was the peak of the Vietnam War, and when we graduated, we were eligible for the draft. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were both assassinated during our four years. Everyone was uniquely engaged in what was going on in society. There were a lot of different reactions to the war in the school, and it taught everyone to think critically and evaluate how you’re living your life. I was always proud of going to Cretin.

Did anyone else in your family attend Cretin, Derham Hall, or CDH? 

My grandkids are fifth generation at CDH through my wife Deborah’s side. Her father went to Cretin, and before that, her grandfather went when the school was moved from the cathedral to Highland Park. My brother also went to Cretin, and my wife and I had four kids graduate from CDH. Now, we have two grandchildren who have gone and more future Raiders who will attend in the years to come! It was great to watch my granddaughters participate in JROTC and see what the program has become. It was such a positive atmosphere for them. 

How did Cretin shape your education and career after high school?

I went to the University of St. Thomas and became the first person in my family to graduate from college. I have a bachelor's degree in English education and a master's degree in educational psychology. I taught at Holy Spirit and then Johnson’s High School. After finishing my master’s degree, I had the opportunity to work in a pain clinic, which introduced me to private rehabilitation. I became a case manager for individuals with injuries that prevented them from working, ensuring they received appropriate medical care to return to their jobs. I established a small practice that we then sold to a Minnesota investment firm. I joined the firm and eventually became a regional vice president responsible for about 800 people. 

I think I developed the leadership skills for that during my time at Cretin, especially with student council and the military program. Like everything else in life, you learn leadership through practice, and those roles gave me the opportunity to do that. I remember having to figure out how to get all the kids in my company to get in line and march properly. I learned my leadership style. I had people's best interests and the common good at heart, and I think that people recognized that. That served me well in my career. 

What do you consider to be the value of a CDH Catholic education?

At CDH, you’re pursuing academic excellence, regardless of the abilities or knowledge you come in with. I think the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Christian Brothers present wonderful faith traditions to pass along to students. They help them establish principles and ethics that will carry them through the rest of their life, especially through difficult times. You look to the Lord when things get tough, and every student will invariably face difficult challenges at different points in their life. I know those traditions have helped me during those times. 

Why has it been important to you to support CDH?

My children and my grandchildren went there—that’s really the greatest treasure we can give—and I think CDH does so much for the whole St. Paul community. I also enjoy offering my time to the Alumni Board to do events for the school. It’s important to keep tying the school and extended community together. I hope that it survives and thrives for another 100 years.