Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
“Pat was always praised for the quality of care she gave. She believed that came directly from her education. Creighton didn’t just teach her how to be a nurse. It shaped the kind of nurse she wanted to be.”
By Nichole Jelinek
What began with a hayrack ride in the late 1970s and a secret engagement blossomed into a lifelong love story rooted in care, connection, and Creighton. That sense of connection guided Thad Fenton, BSPHA’80, JD’83, and the late Pat Fenton, BSN’80, through every chapter of their 45 years together.
Before passing earlier this year, Pat — a proud Bluejay and former member of the College of Nursing Alumni Board —and Thad had made a final Creighton commitment together: a Giving Day challenge gift to support the community they loved so much.
This year, 225 donors gave to any College of Nursing fund to unlock a $10,000 bonus gift made possible by the Fentons. Theirs was one of several 2025 Giving Day challenges created by Creighton alumni, parents and friends.
“It doesn’t end because Pat is gone,” Thad said. “This was our shared commitment, and I’ll keep giving. It’s emotional, but it’s meaningful. Because we’re part of something bigger. That’s what community looks like.”
Thaddeus Fenton and Patricia Costello met on Creighton’s campus in 1976. Thad was a first-generation college student studying in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. Pat, who had long dreamed of becoming a nurse, was enrolled in the College of Nursing.
What began as a casual friendship took a meaningful turn during their senior year.
“She thought I was weird at first — and she wasn’t wrong. I had big sideburns,” Thad recalls with a smile. “All it took was a hayrack ride. Two weeks later, we were secretly engaged.”
In 1980, the same year they graduated, Thad and Pat were married at St. John’s Church among their family and friends. Thad went on to earn a law degree at Creighton, while Pat began her nursing career.
“Pat was always praised for the quality of care she gave,” Thad said. “She believed that came directly from her education. Creighton didn’t just teach her how to be a nurse. It shaped the kind of nurse she wanted to be.”
For more than four decades, the Fentons gave back to Creighton together, supporting mission-driven programs and scholarships and participating in Giving Day.
“Pat and I always watched the numbers—we’d check in constantly to see if the goals were being met. It was fulfilling to know we were part of that momentum,” Thad said. “Even now, I’ll still keep an eye on donor targets and do whatever I can to help unlock them, because it’s meaningful. I hope others will feel inspired to do the same.”
In 2019, the couple endowed a family scholarship, setting a powerful example of generosity for their four sons. Austin Fenton, a 2016 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Division of Student Life Leader of Yesterday Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication to the student body, and Bluejay spirit.
“Pat and I always gave modestly,” Thad said. “But when we had the resources to do something impactful, we wanted to make it count. I tell my sons and others: You don’t have to give a lot. Just give something. Even $100 a year builds a habit of generosity.”
Thad says he enjoys supporting programs that resonate with his Creighton experience—like journalism, where he spent a lot of time as a student.
While at Creighton, he co-hosted a student radio show on KOCU with his roommate, Robert Hallinan, BA’79, called The Thaddeus George and Father Bob Show. After each broadcast, they’d deliver snacks and drinks to dorms across campus.
“It was silly and fun,” he said. “But it made people feel connected. That’s what it was all about.”
During Pat’s illness, Thad experienced a moment that reminded him how far Creighton’s reach extends. Her final physician in Texas was a graduate of the Creighton School of Medicine.
“It felt like a full-circle moment,” Thad said. “No matter where we are, Creighton’s impact is everywhere. It reminded me of the deep connection we felt to the University — and how the people who are part of this community, whether nurses, doctors, or students, are all in it together. That brought me peace, because I knew Pat’s doctor understood the science, and the heart. That’s what makes Creighton special.”
