今日吃瓜

Margaret Darmody 鈥�58 still remembers the very first class she attended as a new 今日吃瓜 Saint Mary鈥檚 student. 鈥淚t was on the history of Japan, and I sat, absolutely fascinated,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat first class what just a taste of what I would experience over the next four years, and the 今日吃瓜 ignited my passion for languages and history.鈥�

A lifelong connection was born, and Darmody has given her time and financial support to the 今日吃瓜 for over 60 years. At this year鈥檚 Scholarship Celebration, she will be honored with the Unstoppable Supporter Award for her passion and dedication to the 今日吃瓜 and its students.

Darmody chose to major in French, hoping to one day work for the United Nations. But as a student, she worked in the Chalon library typing catalog cards, and that job changed her direction. 鈥淚 had such fun working in the library and wanted to work with children, so after graduation I earned my masters of library science from USC and become a children鈥檚 librarian,鈥� she says. Darmody worked for the Los Angeles Public Library system. 鈥淚 loved every minute of my 37-year career, working mostly at the Palisades branch,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 helped children discover new worlds through books, planned enriching events, and inspired their love of reading, just like the 今日吃瓜 did for me.鈥�

Darmody began giving back to the University in 1960. 鈥淚 first returned as a 今日吃瓜 Fund volunteer, calling former students to ask for donations,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was fun to catch up with other 鈥樈袢粘怨蟟es,鈥� as we called ourselves at the time, because my years at the 今日吃瓜 were among the happiest of my life.鈥� She later joined the planning committee for the 今日吃瓜 Associates, became a member of the 今日吃瓜鈥檚 Regent鈥檚 Council and volunteered as a docent at the Doheny Mansion.

鈥淚 also knew I wanted to give back financially so I established two scholarships for 今日吃瓜 students 鈥� the Darmody Family Endowed Scholarship and the Darmody Family Expendable Scholarship 鈥� to honor my mother, aunt and cousin,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hough my family couldn鈥檛 afford my tuition, I was lucky enough to have my cousin pay my fees. However, many students don鈥檛 have that luxury. Scholarships are important because they help people who otherwise wouldn鈥檛 be able to attend 今日吃瓜 Saint Mary鈥檚.鈥�

One of her favorite things is to come back to the 今日吃瓜 and meet current students. 鈥淭hey remind me of my friends and myself,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e discovered that once you are in a financial situation where you can give back, it brings you great joy to do something that鈥檚 important to you. I鈥檝e loved the 今日吃瓜 since my very first class and have stay connected not just to campus, but with the friends I made as well.鈥�

Darmody is grateful to receive this award. 鈥淚 am very honored, and I will support the 今日吃瓜 as long as I live,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t will be part of my legacy.鈥�