Planned gift honors father figure, supports generations of Newman Master of Social Work Students
Barbara “Sunny” Shea ’72 found her calling to social work at Sacred Heart College, now Newman University.
Decades later, Shea shows her support for Newman’s mission through a planned gift to the university’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. The scholarship, established in honor of a dear friend, Bill McKenna, will support future Newman students who embody the same humility, resilience and servant’s heart that McKenna lived his life with.
“In my early 30s, I was struggling financially, and professionally I was just getting my feet on the ground,” Shea explained. “My confidence level was shaky. Bill once told me, ‘We each give out of our excess; me my money, you your love.’ He was saying, ‘I see the value of what you’re offering to the world.’ That remains my happiest moment with him.”
McKenna, who was born in 1911 in Providence, Rhode Island, lived through hardships that shaped his generosity. After losing both parents during the Great Depression, he worked his way through law school and often went hungry. A $50 tuition gap kept him from Harvard Law, a regret Shea said lingered.
Still, McKenna built a respected legal career and gave freely to others. He and his wife, Rose, never had children, but McKenna became a father figure to Shea.
“He was very generous to me, and he left me a legacy which really changed my life by giving me a security blanket to wrap myself around,” Shea said. “This is why I’m paying it forward at Newman. Hopefully, these funds will help make someone’s journey easier.”
Shea, who spent nearly 40 years working in social services and hospice care, considers social work her “life’s work.”
“It’s overlooked and no one’s getting rich doing it, but social work takes a servant’s heart — which we need, especially now,” she said.
Shea’s planned gift ensures her scholarship will continue to grow, supporting Newman MSW students well into the future. She hopes others consider the power of any donation.
“No donation is so small that it’s insignificant,” she said. “A dollar is better than not giving anything.”
For Shea, the scholarship isn’t just a financial contribution; it is a way to keep McKenna’s legacy alive.
“The student who gets this scholarship will read about Bill, and for a moment, his light shines again.”