Michael J. Kiley, JD — Holy Cross Trustee and Great Friend of the College

On May 20, 2008, Mike Kiley, Holy Cross College Trustee and former Chairman of the Board, passed away at the age of 73.  Kiley served one term as Chairman and was on the Board of Trustees for more than a decade since July of 1997.

Kiley started his Catholic education at St. Paul’s Grade School in Marion, Indiana.  He became a member of the Holy Cross Family when he attended Gilmour Academy in Gates Mill, a boarding school run by the Brothers.  He matriculated at the University of Notre Dame, graduated with a BA, and continued his education by earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence at Georgetown University in 1959.

“I met Mike one summer when he came to visit an ailing Holy Cross brother who had been one of his high school teachers at Gilmour Academy,” said Br. Richard Gilman, CSC, President of Holy Cross College. “He spoke of his admiration for the Holy Cross mission, and so I asked him if he would be interested in getting more involved. Little did he know how much I would be relying on him in the years to come!  But Mike always served selflessly and with great compassion,” Br. Richard recalled.

Kiley was also a devoted public servant in his hometown of Marion, Indiana.  He served two terms as city judge, from 1963 until 1970, was also a former public defender, a former attorney for the Marion School Board, and worked as counsel for the city of Marion on its develop- ment-bond issues.

On the state level, Kiley served as a commissioner for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Commission. For his contributions to the State of Indiana, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by former Gov. Robert Orr in 1989.

Kiley is survived by his wife, Carol, and three children; Anne, a St. Mary’s graduate; Dan, an Indiana University graduate; and Matt, a South Bend resident and graduate of St. Joseph’s College.

“He was just a wonderful man who will be missed by the entire Holy Cross family,” remembered Pat Falvey, Vice President of Advancement.