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Supporting CDH: In Memory of Dan Gowan '81

January 25, 2022

The Gowan family: Meghan Gowan Huss '03, Ronda McCauley Gowan '82, Dan Gowan '81, Greg Gowan '08, Sam Gowan '15.

A memorial gift to Cretin-Derham Hall is a special way to remember someone you love. Your gift will make an impact for students today and for years to come, so that your friend or family member's memory will live on.

The Gowan family (Ronda McCauley Gowan '82, Meghan Gowan Huss '03, Greg Gowan '08, Sam Gowan '15) made memorial gifts in honor of their husband and father, Dan Gowan '81, who passed away in July 2021. Meghan reflected on choosing to make a memorial gift and what CDH means to their family.

If you would like to make a gift in honor of someone you love, you can donate online today.

Why did you choose to make a gift to CDH in honor of Dan?

CDH is a place that all five of us had the privilege to attend (Dan, Ronda, Meghan, Greg, Sam) which is something we have been able to bond and share stories over. CDH has provided a community for our small family, and we all have long-lasting friendships from our time there.

What do you hope your gift provides to current and future students?

All of us have been provided opportunities and exposure to experiences we might not have had without CDH, including advanced education, volunteering, world travel, JROTC, sports/activities, and arts — especially photography and ceramics as family favorites. We feel well-rounded in our interests as individuals and continue to feel pulled towards serving the communities we are in, a foundation that was set at CDH as an expectation. We would love to be able to help others who want these opportunities to have them, regardless of their financial situations.

Why would you encourage other people to make memorial gifts?

Dan was a firm believer that all children be provided a great educational opportunity, public or private, which is why he never had an issue paying taxes to support St. Paul Public Schools. However, if someone did want to join the CDH community, he was adamant that finances should never be a reason for someone to not be a part of CDH.

A hard financial situation can hit any family unexpectedly and education should not be a cause of financial stress. With our memorial gift, we hope to provide that security and support for other families. We encourage others to do so as well, as we have known people who have needed the help.

What did CDH mean to Dan?

He was an only child, so he loved going to school to be with friends and was often a sidekick "brother" in his friends' families. The JROTC program set the foundation for his service as a rescue medic in the US Coast Guard and eventually a respiratory therapist at Regions Hospital. After a few transfers, he and my mom were drawn back to St. Paul to allow us the same opportunities they had through Cretin and Derham Hall.

I remember my parents' sheer joy that we wanted to continue our education at CDH. Dad had high expectations that we soak in all that there was to learn there, especially the opportunies to serve our community as volunteers and to become lifelong learners. You could always find my dad on the sidelines cheering on CDH at JROTC and sporting events. He was there as our parent, he was there cheering me and the team on when I started coaching Raider volleyball and for my mom when she took over coaching volleyball. You could often find my parents at CDH events even if they didn't specifically know the students participating, knowing they would always run into someone they did know.

On the day of my graduation from CDH, my parents parked in front of a house for sale at Hartford and Albert. They moved as close to the school as they could get! My dad could be found in an Adirondack chair in the backyard watching JROTC practice in the soccer fields or out the front door watching the band march up and down the street. The friends and family we have met through CDH rallied around us when my dad became sick and we are forever grateful for the relationships and support we found in this community. Thank you!