Mary Bruemmer
Celebrating Mary at 100
1920
Mary is born on Feb. 26 in Madison, Illinois, to Ignatius G. and Adele Bruemmer.
1938
Mary, a recent graduate of St. Mary's Catholic School and Madison High School in Madison, Illinois, enrolls at Saint Louis University as a freshman in the School of Education and Social Sciences, because at that time women were not permitted to register in the College of Arts and Sciences.
1940
While at SLU, Mary was on the staff of both The University News (the student newspaper) and the Fleur-de-Lis (a student-run literary magazine). At the time she joined the paper and magazine, there were no other female staff members.
1942
Mary graduates from SLU with with an A. B. degree in education with a double major in history and English. She takes a job with the Red Cross and later moves to Springfield, Illinois, to help set up Catholic Youth Organizations.
1943
Mary moves to Springfield, Illinois. Over the 13 years she lives there, she works in roles for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), Community Chest (United Way), WCVS-FM (96.7 FM), the Lincoln Library and Springfield Junior College.
1948
Mary begins the first of several jobs in media and communications, including publicity gigs for the Springfield Public Library and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
1956
Mary moves back home and becomes the director of Marguerite Hall, SLU's first official residence hall for women.
1960
Mary graduates SLU a second time, with a Master of Education, and becomes director of women's housing at Saint Louis University.
1967
Mary becomes Saint Louis University's dean of women.
1972
Mary becomes dean of students, a new position that combines her former role as dean of women with the positions of dean of men and dean of student affairs.
1973
Mary helps to found the Saint Louis University Women's Commission, then known as the President's Advisory Commission on the Status of Women.
1977
Mary is named Saint Louis University’s first Woman of the Year
1980
The Student Government Association creates the Mary A. Bruemmer Award to recognize a member of the SLU community who made a lasting impact and exemplified dedication to advancing the student experience.
1985
Mary's work moves from the Division of Student Development to the Division of Advancement. "She's one of the finest Jesuits we have." remarks then Saint Louis University President, Father Thomas Fitzgerald, S.J.
The Women's Council Mary Bruemmer Endowed Scholarship is established.
1990
Mary officially retires but continues coming to SLU daily as a full-time volunteer for the Women's Commission, Women's Council and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society, for more than two decades to come.
Mary receives SLU's inaugural Fleur de Lis Award.
1995
Mary is initiated as an alumna into Phi Beta Kappa.
2000
Mary receives an honorary doctor of humanities from SLU.
The statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola that stands in the Saint Louis University quad between the library and DuBourg Hall is commissioned and dedicated in Mary's honor. "Our Lady of the Way" near Fusz Hall is also dedicated in her honor.
2006
Mary receives Alpha Sigma Nu's Peg Fennig Award.
2009
DuBourg Hall's Mary Bruemmer Conference room is named in her honor.
2012
Mary receives the Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan Award from the St. Andrews Charitable Foundation.
2013
Mary, a Billiken basketball season ticket holder for more than 50 years, is honored by the Department of Athletics during a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX legislation.
2014
University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., recognizes Mary during his inaugural address, calling her "one remarkable woman who is an inspiring example of what it means to be a Billiken."
Mary receives the Champion of Change Award from Women's Place.
2016
Mary is awarded a papal knighthood, becoming Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Sylvester, Pope and Martyr
Mary receives the Community Support Award from the Center for Women in Transition.
Mary Bruemmer Plaza is dedicated at SLU's Spring Hall.
Mary receives SLU's Alumni Merit Award.