(Tom Ganser photo)
Inspired by former dean of students
By Tom Ganser
SLN Correspondent
In a special ceremony, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dedicated its new Memory Garden, a site meant to celebrate campus memories.
Inspired by the unexpected death of Dean of Students Mary Beth Mackin on Nov. 7, 2015, many colleagues, friends, family members and students whose lives she had touched sought a way to honor her legacy on campus and decided on creating a memory garden.
“While the Campus Memory Garden may have been initiated by great sadness it’s dedicated today to celebrate the memories of UW-Whitewater. It will be a place that reminds us of what is truly important in life: our people, our family, our friends, and the time spent together.,” said Brent Bilodeau, the interim vice chancellor for student affairs, at the Nov. 7 ceremony.
The garden is east of the Greenhill Center of the Arts. The garden was designed by McKay Nursery Company and the hardscape was installed by R. R. Walton Company in August, 2017.
Mackin began her service at UWW in 1988.
In opening the dedication ceremony, Bilodeau noted that he had served with Mackin starting in 2010. “Today, we’re gathered for exactly what this new memory garden is designed for: Remembering, but also to create and celebrate new memories here at UW-Whitewater,” Bilodeau said.
For more on the dedication ceremony, pick up the Nov. 30 edition of the Whitewater Register.
