When Gonzaga Prep took its first steps toward co-education, Marilyn McKenna was already at the table, quietly shaping a future she believed in. A trustee, mother, and tireless advocate for teachers and students, her leadership grounded in faith helped guide Prep through a pivotal moment that still echoes today.
When Marilyn McKenna joined the Gonzaga Prep Board of Trustees in 1976, she often joked that she felt wildly out of place. A mother of seven young children at the time—with more to come—she would spend her mornings watching Sesame Street with a toddler and then walk into board meetings with a diaper still tucked in her purse. Surrounded by highly educated Jesuits and seasoned businessmen, she sometimes wondered how she ended up at that table at all. But anyone who knew Marilyn understood exactly why she belonged there.
A strong, faith-filled Catholic raised and educated at St. Pat’s in Hillyard and Holy Names Academy, Marilyn had always believed deeply in the power of teachers. She loved teaching herself, stepping away only to raise her growing family, with every intention of returning once the children were older. In the meantime, she became a community volunteer of uncommon energy—Junior League, Pregnancy Care Center, Catholic schools, Camp Fire, and any place where hands and heart were needed.
Marilyn entered Prep’s board shortly after the historic decision to become co-educational. What she saw was not simply an administrative shift, but a transformation that would touch families, classrooms, and the community for generations. She quickly rolled up her sleeves—especially on the board salary committee, where some of the most difficult work was being done. Prep, once staffed primarily by Jesuits, now had to rely more and more on lay teachers, and the economics were stark: in the late 1970s, Prep teachers earned significantly less than local public school teachers. Marilyn never forgot the tight years when her husband, Jack `53, was a medical resident and losing a dime in the grocery store brought her to tears. She carried those memories into her advocacy for fair teacher salaries.
Her leadership came during a time of profound questions—the need to expand school facilities, changes in curriculum, and evolving diocesan relationships, particularly in light of the future of Marycliff. Through it all, Marilyn leaned on her love of the Jesuits, her trust in the Prep community, and her steadfast belief in the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Marilyn and Jack ultimately raised 12 children—five born to them and seven adopted from the U.S., Korea, and Guatemala. Eleven of the 12 attended Prep (the 12th joined the family while in college). Their home was a reflection of their faith: generous, open, and rooted in the belief that love is meant to be shared.
Marilyn was inducted into the Gonzaga Prep Hall of Fame in 1991 in recognition of the difference she made while serving on the board. She later suffered a debilitating neurologic disorder that cut her life short at the age of 60.
Her legacy at Gonzaga Prep is much the same as the life she lead … quiet, steady, and woven into the very fabric of the school. Marilyn never sought recognition, yet the impact of her voice, her courage, and her faith continues to shape the community she loved. The doors that opened for young women, the support she championed for teachers, and the spirit of service she embodied all remain part of Prep’s living story. Her presence lingers in the classrooms she fought to strengthen, in the opportunities created for generations of students, and in every act of care that continues to define the Prep community. Marilyn lived her faith through courageous yeses—yes to serving, yes to leading, yes to loving generously—and Gonzaga Prep is better because she was willing to take her place at the table, even when she wasn’t sure she belonged there.
