2025 Homecoming Memorial Service
Each year during Homecoming, members of the Tusculum family gather not only to celebrate traditions and shared memories, but also to remember those who are no longer with us. One of the most meaningful moments of the weekend is the Tusculum Alumni Memorial Service, held this year on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in the Chalmers Conference Center inside the Scott M. Niswonger Commons.
This brief yet powerful ceremony offers a time of reflection and remembrance for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university who have passed away during the past year. The service began with a welcome from Angelo Botta ’75, president of the Alumni Executive Board, followed by scripture and prayer shared by Rev. E.J. Swatsell, Director of Spiritual Life.
As part of the ceremony, the names of each departed member of the Tusculum community were read aloud by Edward Roberts, Vice President of Institutional Advancement. With every name, a bell was rung and a carnation was placed in memory of that individual. Friends, classmates, and family members stood in remembrance as their loved one’s name was called—an emotional tribute to lives that enriched Tusculum’s 231-year story.
Assisting with the floral tribute were Tiffany Greer, Vice President of the Alumni Executive Board, and Donna DeMauro McCoy, Alumni Executive Board representative. Together, their gestures symbolized the enduring connections and lasting impact each person had on the university and on one another.
As 2 Corinthians 8:7 reminds us, “Excelling in faith, in knowledge, and in love.” That spirit of love and gratitude guided this year’s memorial service, a reminder that the Tusculum family extends beyond time and distance.
We remember with deep appreciation those who have passed, honoring their legacy and the indelible mark they left on our community.