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Readers respond with memories of the "Mystery Zag" from the Winter 2025 issue of Gonzaga Magazine

Fr. Steve Kuder, S.J. - Professor, Chaplain, Rector, Honors Program Director, Trustee

Fr. Kuder was one of those guys you could chat with endlessly. His storytelling was legendary, making his homilies particularly engaging. He was one of Gonzaga’s longesttenured faculty members and Jesuit priests. And he was deeply loved. He died in 2021.

Readers Reply

Father Kuder taught me (among many things) something essential: “Every moment is a new and shocking evaluation of what is and what will be,” meaning to give each person and experience the benefit of being new and different in each and every day and moment. This has allowed me to have so much growth, grace and patience with both myself and those around me throughout my life. It invariably makes me a better human every single day.
- Madison Navarro ('19)
Seattle

On my home office wall, I have photographs of four priests, including my friend Steve Kuder. Each priest meant much to me because of what he said in a conversation, during the sacrament of reconciliation, or from a sermon in Mass. Next to Steve’s picture is something he said when preaching on the Good Samaritan. Steve described a Good Samaritan as “someone willing to enter into the chaos of another person’s life.” Ever since that sermon I have tried and occasionally succeeded in being willing to enter into the chaos of another person’s life. Besides many long walks and a few great dinners together, Steve and I also skied together many timesƒ. He skied fast and seemingly without ever tiring. I had a heck of a time trying to keep up. I miss my friend very much.
- Judge Rick White (Ret.) ('73, '80 J.D.)
Spokane

Father Kuder is unmistakable. One of the most difficult core classes to pass was written communications. The final requirement was delivering an essay (and rewriting it) until his minimum standards were met. He was fair and honest with unwavering toughness. Great class!
- Leigh Morehouse ('83)
Charleston, W. Va

Father Kuder was very special to my husband Tony and me. We met in his class – Old and New Testament. We planned to be married right after we graduated but Tony was diagnosed with cancer during our senior year. Father Kuder was very supportive and on the day that was supposed to be our wedding, he performed an Anointing of the Sick. The next year he married us after Tony completed chemo and radiation. In later years we would see him when both our kids went to Gonzaga and up at Schweitzer skiing with our family. He will always be a part of our family.
- Ann Waltier ('85)
Kirkland, Wash.

This man was the embodiment of JOY. He brought joy to us when we were running late for his morning class from crew practice at Liberty Lake, teasing us for being smelly and scruffy but applauding us for at least showing up to his class on the third floor of the AD building. This same man, years later, brought my family joy after my dad survived a heart attack, giving him anointing of the sick at Holy Family Hospital and leaving my dad out of breath from laughing so much. All the while, our dear Father Kuder was himself dying from cancer, unbeknownst to all. His smile was contagious, and if you listen carefully in the quiet of the now College Hall, you can hear his roaring laughter continue
to flood the halls, bringing us all joy.
- Lisa Browne-Banic ('90)
Boynton Beach, Fla.

As a member of the Honors Program, 1998-2002, I was blessed to know him well. He was our chaperone for all things Hopkins House and our annual retreats. He was definitely a kind father figure for all of us. It was great to see his cheerful smile in the pages of Gonzaga Magazine!
- Laura Shepphard ('02)
San Diego, Calif.

I have so many fond memories of Father Kuder. One of my first memories of Gonzaga was freshman theology class when he appointed a 51³Ô¹Ï the class “whiner” and all complaints and whines to Fr. Kuder were to come from that 51³Ô¹Ï. I still recall his teachings on the Old Testament and how it helped me to better understand scripture.
- Anne St. Mary ('88)
Ridgefield, Wash.

Fr. Kuder was the Old and New Testament professor in the Honors Program while I was at Gonzaga. I was dreading that class, since I am not Catholic, but he had such an interesting take on the lessons. It was more history than religion, and I found myself truly engaged (although he would cover up the clock and call out anyone who yawned in class).
- Alison (Short) Gillispe ('12)
Centennial, Colo.

Glad to see Steve Kuder featured as the Mystery Zag. Father Kuder was my adviser for two years in the Honors Program. I still remember many of his sayings and nuggets of wisdom. More than once, he took our class through a whiteboard exercise where we divided our commitments and activities into four quadrants: “urgent” versus “important,” and along the other axis, “To Me” versus “To Others.” He urged us to prioritize things that were important to us, rather than things that seemed urgent or important for others. I still remember that framework as I juggle all my commitments as a working parent.
- Mary Fontana ('04)
Seattle

Fr. Steve Kuder was one of my most favorite teachers at Gonzaga; he was also my adviser. I took at least one class a semester from him. I especially loved his Irish Literature class and his Death and Dying class. When senior year rolled around and I was procrastinating on deciding what my thesis was going to be, Steve sent me a note that said, “1 senior thesis theme = 1 free drink at Clinkerdaggers!” That sure helped speed up my decision. (And yes, he actually did buy me that drink!)
- Maureen Koezuna ('82)
Nome, Alaska