Hope Benefit honors Jack, Grace Mary Gallivan, family

Intermountain Catholic

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Guest of honor Jack Gallivan delights the crowd with brief words of gratitude on behalf of his family, and an Irish blessing. IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — There was Irish humor aplenty as more than 800 people gathered April 3 at Little America for the Christus Saint Joseph Villa Hope Benefit tribute to Jack Gallivan, the late Grace Mary Gallivan, and the entire Gallivan family. Prominent among the participants were almost all the Gallivans, the Most Reverend John Charles Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Thomas S. Monson and his wife Frances (just days before he would be sustained as the 16th president of the LDS Church), Elder M. Russell Ballard of the LDS Church and his wife, Barbara, event patrons the Philip McCarthey family, and Villa president and chief executive officer Galen Ewer and his wife, Carma.

Master of Ceremonies Pamela Atkinson welcomed everyone to the event.

Father Patrick Carley, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, gave the invocation before dinner.

Reflecting on the Gospel story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Bishop Wester said the event gave participants the opportunity to journey together. Christus Saint Joseph Villa, he said, gives people the opportunity to hear the Word of God and break bread in a life affirming way.

"The administrator, the staff, and all the Villa caregivers participate in the Easter story of new life. Now we can take the time to be with each other and break bread."

Jack Gallivan is like an institution in this city, said Ewer, reminding participants that the ribbon had just been cut on Grace Mary Manor, 84 units of permanent housing for people in the area who are chronically homeless.

Named after the late Grace Mary Ivers Gallivan, Grace Mary Manor honors the work done on behalf of the homeless by Jack Gallivan and his late wife.

In a video presentation, friends and acquaintances spoke of Gallivan’s long history (60 years) with the Salt Lake Tribune, and his vision that allows him to see the big picture, the long-term impact any project will have on Salt Lake City and the state of Utah, with which Gallivan has had a long love affair.

The video acknowledged Grace Mary’s devotion to Jack and the couple’s children.

Having worked for the Salt Lake Tribune for 40 years, Deacon Lynn Johnson said Gallivan was more than a boss, "he was the patriarch, and he helped shape the destiny of the city and the state."

Others spoke of Gallivan’s current philanthropic work, the Crusade for the Homeless, of which Grace Mary Manor is the second facility to be opened.

Other members of the Gallivan family were credited with their support of Christus Saint Joseph Villa.

Gallivan’s comments of gratitude were brief and gracious.

"We are most grateful for the honor you pay us Gallivans tonight as we are more grateful for your generosity in support of Saint Joseph Villa. Saint Joseph’s is a great, good neighbor institution of the state, made great by its dedicated, inspired staff. To them and you we offer this lovely old Irish blessing:

May there always be a light/in your eyes and your window./ May there always be time/ for a cup of tea with your neighbor./May there always be a child/ and an old person in your life each day./ May you always know the joy of giving to others./ And when you go to confession/ may you always get a priest who is hard of hearing. Amen.

After those words, auctioneers Atkinson and Terry Wood from KTVX Channel 4 took over, encouraging generous bids on 10 donated items.