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Good Things Come in Threes
Shannon Hendricks, Development Associate

Our community grieves the loss of Prep alum and archdiocesan priest Richard Ward ’43, who passed away on October 4, 2021. Fr. Ward bears the distinction of being the only Prep graduate who has held the triple titles of priest, Prep parent and Prep grandparent. He is also the only alum to celebrate all seven Catholic sacraments. Fr. Ward lived a truly remarkable life that touched thousands through his work in Seattle’s medical community and later in his work in the archdiocese.

After graduating from Prep, Fr. Ward attended Gonzaga University and St. Louis University Medical School. He completed his training in anesthesiology at Harborview and Providence Hospitals. While at Providence, he met the love of his life, Norah Muldoon, a surgical nurse on staff. The couple wed in 1950 and had three children: Kevin ’72, Tim ’69 and Sheila.

Fr. Ward served as a flight surgeon in the United Sates Air Force. He returned to Seattle and joined the University of Washington School of Medicine faculty, eventually becoming an Emeritus Professor of Anesthesiology.

After Norah passed in 1987 and following his retirement from medicine, Dick entered the seminary and was ordained a priest of the Seattle Archdiocese in 1993 at the youthful age of 67. He served at St. James Cathedral Parish, St. Michael’s in Snohomish and Holy Cross in Granite Falls. During this time, Fr. Ward was also a Prep grandparent: Kevin and his wife Beverly’s three children all attended Prep: Cary ’02, Caitlin ’04, and Kaleigh ’07.

Fr. Ward eventually retired to the Palisades Retirement House in Federal Way and later moved to the Skyline Retirement Community.

Through the years, Fr. Ward always believed in supporting Prep. He gave with a spirit of humility and joy. Fr. Ward’s generosity and his deep love for his wife, Norah, will live on at Prep for decades to come. In 2006 Fr. Ward established the Norah Muldoon Ward Memorial Endowment, which offers tuition assistance to Prep students each year. Norah’s endowment, and the endowments established in honor or memory of others, make a tangible difference in Prep’s ability to offer the best Catholic, Jesuit education possible to students who would not otherwise be able to experience a Prep education.

  • alumni
  • goodbyes
  • memoriam
  • ministry

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Lisa Fernandez, Director of Communications & Marketing