By Rosemary Peters
February 3 marked the passing of an important and caring benefactor of the UP community. Suzanne "Sue" Schoenfeldt Fields died at the age of 83 in Indian Wells, Calif.
Fields, known to most UP students for the dorm that bears her name, was well-regarded in the community as a whole for her vivaciousness, generosity and Christ-like actions.
"Sue Fields was one of the most lively, honest-speaking, fun-loving people I know," Executive Vice President Fr. Tom Doyle, C.S.C., said. "She was a great friend."
According to Doyle, Fields' death is a tragedy for the University because she was such an important and constant supporter of UP.
"Sue has been involved at UP for decades," Doyle said. "She didn't just love UP, but she also had a fond place in her heart for the priests and brothers here."
Every month, Fields would come to the University and have lunch with the priests. She would show up early and stay late, laughing and joking with the priests. Fields told them that if she could, she would move into Fields Hall and become the dorm's house mother.
According to Doyle, Fields was a caring woman who always tried to keep other people's well-being in mind. She used to call and check in on him every Monday to make sure he was doing well and was happy.
"It's not that often you meet someone with that good of a mind and that tender of a heart," Doyle said.
Fields sat on UP's Board of Regents since 1995. She and her husband, Fred Fields, who survives her, have been long-time donors to the school.
In addition to donating money for the new dorms, Fields and Schoenfeldt Halls, Fields, her husband and her late brother, Fr. Art Schoenfeldt, C.S.C., founded the University's Schoenfeldt Distinguished Visiting Writers Series.
The goal of the series is to enhance students' lives and writing experiences by bringing distinguished writers to the University to visit classes, meet with students and faculty and give guest lectures. For more than two decades, the series has brought prominent writers to the UP campus and the city.
According to the program handed out during the fall dedication of Schoenfeldt and Fields Hall, Field's philanthropic efforts not only affected the University, but the city of Portland as a whole.
Fields was a board member for the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Humane Society, The Seminary Tea and the Boys and Girls Aid Society. She also played a key role in the restoration of Portland's St. Mary's Cathedral.
According to Doyle, restoring the then-70- year-old Cathedral was one of her proudest accomplishments because the Cathedral was her parish church when she was a little girl, and it remained so for the rest of her life.
Fields was born in Portland, and attended Madeleine Grade School, St. Mary's Academy and the University of Oregon.
She and her husband, Fred , a businessman and Life Trustee and former Chair of the Board of Trustees of Lewis & Clark College, were married for 52 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Feb. 16 at St. Mary's Cathedral. UP President Fr. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., will be the principal celebrant, and Fr. Tom Doyle, C.S.C., will preach. Fields' cousin, Fr. Jerry Cobb, S.J., will concelebrate along with priests from the Archdiocese and the Congregation of Holy Cross.
An on-campus memorial service is set for next Monday in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart in Fields Hall at 10 p.m.
"Her bricks and mortar will change the university forever, but what makes Sue an incredible person is how kind and thoughtful she was to her friends like me," Doyle said.
