The Rose Gaffney Kinesiology Scholarship
Rosemary Gaffney was a staunch believer in the power of education to change lives. Having lived through the Depression, she had to quit school in the 8th grade to work in a factory to help support her family. Her desire was to get an education and become a nurse but was never able to return to school. She had to continue to work in factories as a single parent. She often told her six children and ten grandchildren, “you can push a shovel or a pencil” and was pleased that nearly all pursued higher education. She passed away peacefully in October, 2014.
She was a loving mother, high-spirited, with a fiery sense of humor. Rose lived life as a genuine, caring, honest person. She enjoyed physical activity and supported her children and grandchildren throughout their competitive events. A fierce competitor on the links, she had a passion for golf, achieving Elmhurst Ladies' Club championship multiple times. She was a long-standing member of Elmhurst Country Club.
Rose was an animal lover, who took in stray cats and dogs who arrived at her home. She had a special fondness for furry friends. She was an extremely generous person, once buying all the candy at a fund-raising event for the school children’s annual trip. No one knew she did this until the teacher wrote the family a note upon Rose’s passing. She was the epitome of giving the “shirt off her back” to help others.
Dr. Brilla and her siblings wish to honor their mother with this scholarship endowment while also providing meaningful support for Graduate students in the Kinesiology-Exercise Science program at WWU where Dr. Brilla has spent the bulk of her career as a professor in the Kinesiology program and served as the program Graduate Coordinator for nearly 20 years.
Please make your gift today and support deserving students while honoring the memory of Rose, who always understood the meaning of higher education.
