Campus News

Rockford, Ill., –  Senior Development Officer John McNamara was honored by the Winnebago and Boone Counties Continuum of Care (task force on homelessness) with the inaugural Hero of Homeless Award on November 19, 2014. The award was given to Mr. McNamara in recognition of his initiation in 1987 of the Mayors’ Task Force on Homelessness and the subsequent coordinated care to this population. He served as Mayor of Rockford from 1981 – 1989. Others receiving this recognition were Dick Kunnert,who chaired the task force for 18 ye‌ars and A posthumous award to Frank Ware, director of the Janet Wattles mental health clinic from 1989 to his death in 2011.‌

Since 2004, McNamara has worked in various roles at Rockford University including Special Assistant to the President, Senior Fellow in the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement, Vice President of College Development and is currently the Senior Development Officer. He served in the U.S. Army with a tour in Vietnam, as an assistant public defender for the County of Winnebago, as a city council member prior to serving as Rockford’s mayor.

In his current role John has been instrumental in re-establishing efforts to identify and assist those individuals who have named or are considering Rockford University in their estate plans. He continues to be a tireless advocate for the city and its citizens and remains active with his church, St. Peter Cathedral, and multiple boards and committees. He received a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame in 1961, and a law degree from The University of Michigan in 1964.