Orono, ME – The University of Maine Foundation recently received a $1 million gift from the Agnes Ann Walsh estate to establish a new named chair in the University’s Department of Modern Languages and Classics. In addition, Agnes Ann funded the Agnes Ann Walsh ’41 Scholarship to benefit students majoring in romance languages. These contributions are legacy gifts of the class of 1941 alumna who sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 100.
“Agnes Ann Walsh’s bright spirit and passion for the University of Maine during her lifetime will now live on through her generous gift and the many students who will benefit from her generosity,” said University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy.
Born and raised in South Portland, Maine, Walsh headed north to begin her education at the University of Maine in 1937. Her heavy involvement in UMaine culture and the academic community included the Delta Delta Delta sorority, debate team, language club, student publications, sports and campus leadership group the Sophomore Eagles. Graduating in 1941 with a degree in romance classics, Walsh enjoyed a long career as a Latin teacher. She taught at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, Thorton Academy in Saco, Maine, and finally Winchester High School in Winchester, Massachusetts, where she taught for over 25 years.
Agnes Ann was incredibly dedicated to the University of Maine through her financial contributions, her involvement in the Alumni Ambassador program and her extensive work as a the correspondent for the Class of 1941. Walsh was awarded the 2015 Hilda A. Sterling ’55 Class Correspondent Award, was the 1990 recipient of the Black Bear Award, and was elected an honorary member of the University of Maine Foundation in 2007. In 2019, she was honored with a Stillwater Award at the biannual Stillwater Society dinner. “In 2019, at the Stillwater Society dinner, at nearly 100 years old, Agnes Ann gave one of the most heart-warming acceptance speeches I have ever encountered at UMaine,” said President/CEO of the Foundation Jeffery Mills. “Her contributions have benefitted numerous areas across campus, beyond this new fund, including the Buchanan Alumni House and the John Randall & Agnes Annie Walsh Scholarship. She was a loyal alumna who will be remembered fondly.”
“I share Agnes Ann Walsh’s confidence in the value of learning languages and am deeply grateful that she chose to leave her extraordinary legacy to support this purpose.” said Emily Haddad, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “The Walsh Chair and scholarship will create transformative opportunities for students of French and Spanish at UMaine. I look forward to working with the inaugural Walsh Chair, Professor Frédéric Rondeau, to realize the remarkable potential of Ms. Walsh’s gift.”
Prof. Rondeau joined the University of Maine faculty in 2013 and has served as director of the Canadian American Center on campus since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in French language and literature from McGill University. He is the author or co-author of four books on topics in Québécois literature and culture as well as 25 articles and chapters. He also edited or co-edited three other volumes. His book Le Manque en partage recieved the 2017 Jean-Éthier Blais prize for the best book of literary criticism in Quebec. He teaches courses on Francophone literature and regularly offers a May term travel course in Quebec. His plans as Walsh Chair focus on international and experiential learning opportunities for students.
The Agnes Ann Walsh ’41 Chair and the Agnes Ann ’41 Scholarship funds were established at the University of Maine Foundation for the benefit of the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, through planned gifts from Agnes Ann Walsh, a member of the class of 1941, in loving memory of her parents, John Randall Walsh and Agnes Annie Gough.
