Professor Robert Donalson

Robert Donalson died Dec. 22, 2021. He was 87. Bob was a professor in Illinois Wesleyan’s School of Music for 30 years; he retired in 1994 with emeritus status. Bob felt the call to become an educator while serving in the U.S. Army in a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. He obtained a master’s degree at San Jose State University and a doctorate at the University of Colorado Boulder. He began his teaching career at Pepperdine University before landing at IWU. Bob loved beauty in all its forms — nature, art and poetry among them — but music was his emotional home. He was active in religious life and often shared his gift of music in the church. Bob was always learning and educated himself on subjects ranging from theology and philosophy, to computer science and financial investing, to home repair and carpentry. He enjoyed traveling, sports, his cats and, most of all, his family. He is survived by his wife, five children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Bob’s Celebration of Life will be held on February 12 at 1 p.m. CST and will be live-streamed at christlutheranchurchffg.org.

TAG Day 2021

Monday, February 8 is Thank-A-Giver Day at Illinois Wesleyan and we’re eager to celebrate generous Titans!

Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day is the symbolic point during the academic year — about 70% of the way through — when tuition dollars are exhausted and Illinois Wesleyan relies on donor generosity to continue providing a world-class education and rewarding collegiate experiences.

Each and every year, every gift matters. Contributions benefit students and faculty, enhance academic excellence, and strengthen the IWU community.

Thank you to all who give back to move IWU forward.

Titans Supporting Titans

Ways to Support Fellow Titans
    1. To share a word of support for your classmates at this time, submit a post to your class newsletter by emailing your editor or if your class does not have an editor, send your post to classnews@iwu.edu.
    2. You can provide support to the Titan Student Emergency Fund. This fund will provide relief to students with needs such as housing, travel, moving and storage, transportation and vehicle repair, and technology needs related to remote learning.
    3. If you have expertise or a career opportunity that you can share with students, please connect with a Hart Career Center staff member for a phone or video appointment through a Handshake account here. You can also post job and internship opportunities on the site. View FAQs here.
    4. University Archives & Special Collections wants to hear your experiences and reflections to keep a historical record of the impact of the pandemic on the Illinois Wesleyan community, you can learn more here.
    5. Assist the IWU Admissions team in student recruitment efforts. Our alumni are the best and most qualified to meet with prospective students to share your IWU experience. Sign up here: Titan Alumni Ambassadors.
    6. You can see more ideas here.

TAG Day 2020

Thank-A-Giver Day (TAG Day) is Monday, February 10. This day provides the IWU campus community with the opportunity to thank donors who support Illinois Wesleyan. IWU celebrates each year in mid-February because it marks the symbolic point during the academic year – about 70% of the way through – when we rely on support from alumni and friends, our endowment, and external grants.

If you would like to be celebrated as a donor today, you can make a gift at iwu.edu/give

Zelotes Toliver ’70

Zelotes Toliver ’70 will perform his Spirituals concert live at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, NY on February 23. His concert will include iconic African American Spirituals. For more information about the concert and the work of Zelotes, click here.

Best of luck, Zelotes!

Zelotes Edmund Toliver (Photo by Bernd Paulitschke)

Phillip Glotfelty ’70

We regret to inform you that Phillip Glotfelty ’70 of Shorewood, Illinois, died Nov. 1, 2019. He was 71. Phil met his future wife Jody (Carlson) Glotfelty ’70 while attending Illinois Wesleyan. He began his career at Kemlite Corporation, where he established the company’s human resources department, and later joined First Midwest Bank Corporation, from which he retired in 2006. He was active in many groups and organizations, including: Sports Car Club, Jaycees, Joliet (Ill.) Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Council, Joliet Kiwanis Club, and Plainfield (Ill.) United Methodist Church. He enjoyed golfing, playing cards and Trivial Pursuit, sharing meals with friends, and watching his grandchildren play sports and perform on stage. He is survived by his wife, children Sherry (Glotfelty) Steele ’99 and Jeffrey Glotfelty ’00, seven grandchildren, brother, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  You can read his full obituary here.

Phillip E. "Phil" Glotfelty

Michael E. Davey ’70

Michael E. Davey ’70 of Alexandria, Virginia, died March 2, 2019. He was 71. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history at Illinois Wesleyan, Mike acquired master’s degrees in sociology, educational administration, and future studies. He taught sixth grade, and worked for Batelle, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, before beginning his career as a researcher at the Congressional Research Service. While there, Mike was selected to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University. He also spent a year on loan to the National Research Council as the National Nanotechnology Initiative Study Director. Mike taught evening classes at the University of Maryland. He had a lifelong love of sports and coached youth sports for many years. He was active in his church and was a President of the Board of Directors for United Community Ministries, a local nonprofit. Mike is survived by his wife Bonnie (Earll) Davey ’70, two children, two grandsons and two sisters.

You can read the obituary here.

All In–Happy Hour Events

Check out the All In Happy Hours taking place around the country. Show your Titan pride and encourage others to meet you for All In Happy Hour by spreading the word on your personal networks via social media, calls, texts, and emails.

You’ll have a great time while encouraging others to give on All In day and sharing stories about how IWU Unlocked Opportunities for each of us. 
Visit our webpage for more information and registration

All In For Wesleyan

On April 11, alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of IWU show your pride and support by being All In for Wesleyan. During this 24-hour giving day, let’s unlock opportunities together – you are key to our success!

Be All In, All Day, make an additional gift at iwu.edu/all-in and spread the word on social media using#AllInforWesleyan. Check out our social media toolkit!