Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, M.A. class of 1975, top a long list of dignitaries who will offer reflections at the memorial service for University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore “Ted” Hesburgh on Wednesday evening, the University announced in a press release Monday.
According to the statement, other speakers will include Carter’s wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter; former president of Princeton University William Bowen; Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, class of 1977 and Law School class of 1981; Dillon Hall rector Fr. Paul Doyle; former football head coach Lou Holtz; archbishop emeritus of Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick; Indiana Gov. Mike Pence; Board of Trustees member Martin W. Rogers, class of 1988; former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson and former Pennsylvania Sen. Harris Wofford.
University President Fr. John Jenkins will also offer a tribute, the release stated.
“We are honored that the Carters, Dr. Rice and our other distinguished guests will join to pay tribute to Fr. Ted and his many contributions to national and international affairs, the Catholic Church and higher education,” Jenkins said in the statement. “This tribute will be a special opportunity to celebrate Fr. Ted’s remarkable life and career.”
The tribute will begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Purcell Pavilion and will also include music from Notre Dame student choirs and instrumentalists, the release stated.
Members of the general public can obtain a limited number of tickets to the service beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Murnane Family Ticket Office at Purcell Pavilion.
According to the release, both the Carters and Rice knew Hesburgh for nearly 40 years. Hesburgh served on the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy in the Carter administration and as University president while Rice was a graduate student.
