Earlier this month, longtime Director of Student Accounts at Creighton, Bob Leahy, passed away. Leahy worked in the business office for 36 years. Being a graduate of Creighton, he was committed to improve the school in whatever way he could and help out students with their finances. His loss was devastating to the business office.

“It was such a sudden thing, “ Ann O’Dowd, Assistant Director of Student Accounts, said. “He was here and then he wasn’t feeling well. We just expected him to return and that just didn’t happen. So were just trying to go on. We are a small office of twelve plus Bob. The most recent hire was 12 years ago, so people enjoyed working here and for him.”

Leahy was known for being very nice, fair, but also stern when necessary. He was also known for coming into work early and having a good reputation with the other offices around campus.

“He was a good mentor for the staff members here,” Connie Peterson, Student Accounts Manager, said. “We learned a lot under Bob. We always knew where he stood on things and he was very forthcoming with his opinions on things and that made it easy to work for him because we knew where he stood. He was a good person to work for and was more than a boss to us.”

When not in the office, Leahy took great pride in his flowers and landscaping. His coworkers will also remember him for being a great cook.

“He loved to cook,” said O’Dowd. “He could cook anything from a fabulous meal to an outstanding cheesecake. Every year, we had a Christmas party here in the office and invited other departments from the university and he was instrumental in getting that going. He’d bring in this giant cookie tray that was just beautiful and looked like it was out of a magazine.”

Leahy is remembered for many things. He made fantastic Christmas cookies, he helped students with their finances, and was easy to work with. The Creighton community will remember him fondly.

“I’ve spent a lot of my life with Bob,” Peterson said. “Just walking in his office and expecting his light on, he was always here. We just really miss that.”