And the Name for the New Dorms Are...

The University of Portland has received a $6 million gift from Suzanne and Fred Fields to help finance the construction of two new residence halls on the University of Portland campus.

The new residence halls, “Rev. Arthur Schoenfeldt, C.S.C. Hall” and “Suzanne and Fred Fields Hall” are scheduled to open in Fall 2009 and will house 320 students on the north side of campus. The additional living space reflects the university’s commitment to increasing the number of students living on campus.

University President, Rev E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. remarked, “We believe that a significant portion, and the integration, of students’ learning takes place outside the classroom. We have a 100 year tradition of educating the whole person and the emphasis on keeping students on campus in residence halls are an essential component of carrying out the University’s mission.”

At the September 19, 2008 ground blessing ceremony held on the University of Portland’s campus, Fr. Beauchamp noted how Fred and Sue Fields’ gift ties into a long family legacy at the University of Portland. “Almost one hundred years ago, the University broke ground on Christie Hall – our first residence hall. Present at that moment was a community leader and one of the University’s first financial supporters, Colonel David Dunne. It is one of history’s elegant moments that with us today is Sue Fields, granddaughter of Colonel Dunne. She and Fred have made possible our ninth and 10^th residence halls, soon to be home to 350 students.”
Mr. and Mrs. Fields’ donation is the latest in a number of generous gifts they have bestowed during their long relationship with the University.
Suzanne (Sue) Fields is the sister of the late Rev. Arthur Schoenfeldt, C.S.C., a longtime University priest who passed away in December of 2007. Father Art, or “Padre” as he was known throughout the University community, lived in campus residence halls for most of his years on the bluff. Long revered and beloved, Fr. Art is remembered as man of God and as an inspiration to the thousands of students who both studied and prayed with him. With the help of Sue’s financial support, Fr. Art established the Department of English’s Arthur and Dorothy Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series, named after their parents. The Schoenfeldt Series brings some of the country’s finest writers to campus to teach and meet with students and faculty. Sue Fields joined the University’s Board of Regents in 1995 and has been a pillar of the institution ever since.
Sue’s husband, Fred Fields, served as President, CEO and owner of the innovative Coe Manufacturing in Cleveland, Ohio for many years before selling the business to devote himself to other business ventures and service to the community, including a deep commitment to higher education in Oregon as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Lewis & Clark College.
To honor Fr. Art and preserve the family legacy at the University, the Fields decided to finance a new residence hall. Sue Fields remarked, “Fred and I are proud of our family’s long history with the University of Portland. The University has been an anchor of Portland and educates wonderful young men and women who do good things in the world. When the University approached us with their request to support its highest priority, Fred and I were grateful to be in a position to help this great University. I know my brother Fr. Art would be very proud if he were here to celebrate this moment with us.”