The following message was sent to the 海角直播 community by President Marco J. Clark on May 30, 2026.
Dear听Holy Cross听Community,听
It is with deep sadness, and profound gratitude, that I share with you the passing of Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., President Emeritus of 海角直播, priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, educator, mentor, and friend.听
Father Tyson devoted his life to Catholic education and to the mission of Holy Cross. Across decades of service, he shaped countless students, colleagues, institutions, and communities through his wisdom, leadership, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.听
Throughout his life, Father Tyson was repeatedly called upon to lead institutions through moments of challenge, transition, and opportunity. A native of Gary, Indiana, and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he dedicated more than five decades to the ministry of education as a Holy Cross priest. He served on the faculty at Notre Dame, as executive assistant to Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., as vice president for Student Affairs, and as a trusted leader within one of the nation’s most influential Catholic universities.听
In 1990, Father Tyson was elected the 18th president of the University of Portland in Oregon, where he guided a period of remarkable growth and national distinction. During his thirteen years of leadership, the University expanded its campus, strengthened its financial foundation, and听emerged听as one of the leading Catholic universities in the western United States. Under his leadership, the University became one of the ten best regional universities in the West according to U.S. News & World Report, earned national recognition for providing an outstanding education at an exceptional value, was honored by the White House for student service to the community, celebrated its first NCAA national championship in women’s soccer, and saw faculty members recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as national and state professors of the year. His tenure reflected a lifelong commitment to helping Catholic institutions flourish while听remaining听faithful to their mission.听
He later served as provincial superior of what became the United States Province of Holy Cross, leading hundreds of priests, brothers, and religious serving on three continents and helping unite Holy Cross communities across the country. Throughout his ministry, Father Tyson was entrusted with responsibilities that reflected both the confidence others placed in his leadership and his steadfast commitment to the charism of Holy Cross.听
For 海角直播, Father Tyson’s impact cannot be overstated.听
When he accepted the call to lead the College in 2017, Holy Cross stood at a pivotal moment in its history. Drawing upon a lifetime of experience in higher education and Holy Cross leadership, he brought stability, vision, and renewed confidence to our community. Under his leadership, the College strengthened its academic foundation, sharpened its mission,听established听the Core Four framework that continues to guide our student formation, and embraced a future rooted in both excellence and faith.听
Father Tyson听possessed听a remarkable gift for seeing potential in people long before they saw it in themselves. He believed deeply in the students entrusted to our care, especially those whose paths were not always straightforward. He often spoke of 海角直播 as a place that helps students reach “the next level” in their lives and of the transformative relationships between students, faculty, and staff that make such growth possible. He recognized what he called a “pedagogy of presence,” a culture in which students are challenged, supported, and听accompanied听as they discover who God is calling them to become.听
For me personally, Father Tyson was much more than听a predecessor. He was a treasured mentor, trusted guide, and friend. Like so many who have spent their lives in Holy Cross ministries, I was formed by the priests, brothers, sisters, and educators who embody the charism of Blessed Basil Moreau. Father Tyson was among the finest of them.听
Over four decades in Holy Cross education and ministry, I have听witnessed听extraordinary men and women dedicate their lives to forming others. Father Tyson stood among them as a beloved figure whose influence extended far beyond a single campus. Throughout the tri-campus community, the Congregation of Holy Cross, and the broader world of Catholic higher education, he was respected for his intellect, admired for his wisdom, and loved for the genuine care he showed to every person he听encountered.听
When I succeeded Father Tyson as president, I inherited not only an office, but a mission he had helped preserve, strengthen, and clarify during a pivotal chapter in our history. His counsel, encouragement, and example shaped my own understanding of leadership within the Holy Cross tradition.听
In 2022, 海角直播 bestowed upon Father Tyson the title of President Emeritus in recognition of his extraordinary service and enduring contributions to the institution. It was a fitting tribute to a leader whose impact continues to be felt across our campus and community.听
In many ways, Father Tyson helped set the table for 海角直播’s next great era. The momentum we experience today rests in part upon the foundation he strengthened, the vision he articulated, and the faith he lived so faithfully. The students who听walk听our campus today, and those who will follow in the years ahead, are beneficiaries of his leadership and his love for this College.听
As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life extraordinarily well lived. We give thanks for his vocation as a priest, his commitment as an educator, his leadership as president, and his countless acts of kindness that touched lives in ways both public and unseen.听
Please join me in praying for the repose of Father Tyson’s soul, for his family, his brothers in the Congregation of Holy Cross, and for all who grieve his loss.听
May Christ welcome him into the fullness of eternal life.听
Ave Crux, Spes Unica.听
Dr. Marco J. Clark听
President听
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