A Century of Care

A Century of Care

One hundred years ago, the Donohoe Infirmary—now the Bannan Alumni House—opened its doors to the Santa Clara community. Within these walls, students once found healing (and, according to campus lore, a ghost or two lurking in the halls). For the last 50 years, the building has been home to SCU’s alumni staff, and your home away from home whenever you return to campus.

The building’s story begins with Catherine Donohoe, whose brother Frederick enrolled at Santa Clara College in 1877, marking the beginning of the family’s bond with the campus.

In 1924, Catherine donated three deeds to support the development of the Donohoe Infirmary, in memory of her parents, James and Rose. The building would replace the infirmary that had occupied the second story of the Adobe Lodge since 1870. Thanks to her generosity, the new infirmary opened its doors in 1925 to serve ailing students.

From Healing to Home

For the next 50 years, generations of Broncos walked through its doors not for classes, but for care. The building housed an apartment for the attending physician, offices for staff, an apothecary’s shop and dispensary, a reception room, and a chapel. The infirmary had space for 30 patients and, in a pinch, the attic could be reconfigured to serve as a general ward.

As the University grew, however, so did its health care needs. In 1974, the new Cowell Health Center opened, and the Donohoe building closed its chapter as Santa Clara’s infirmary.

That same year, Fr. Louis I. Bannan, S.J., assistant to the president for alumni affairs, saw new potential in the old infirmary.

In a letter to University leadership, he championed the idea of making Donohoe the home of the Alumni Association: “The alumni, students, and all our public should know that we are not a second-rate agency. Obviously, this is a great factor to enhance loyalty and communications, as well as income. This is clearly a great investment in the future.”

Despite strong competition for the space, Fr. Bannan prevailed. In 1975, the Alumni Association moved into the first floor of the building, beginning a second life for Donohoe—not as a place of physical care, but of community.

By 1978, the alumni offices expanded, thanks to contributions from Broncos and the Donohoe Alumni House Renovation Committee. 

Alumni support fueled renovations in the late 1970s, and the Alumni Gardens behind the building were completed as a special project of William J. Rewak, S.J., who served as University president from 1976 to 1988.

Until 2009, though, the Alumni Association shared the building with other University departments. At various points, the second floor housed groups including the student call center, University Marketing and Communications, and the development team.

Under the leadership of Paul Locatelli, S.J. ’60, the University approved plans to renovate Donohoe Alumni House into a dedicated alumni center, and in 2010, Devcon Construction, owned by Gary Filizetti ’67, led the renovation efforts.

Renewal and Recognition

The remodel modernized the building with seismic retrofitting, a new boardroom, expanded office space, accessibility features, and a bright “living room” where alumni could gather. The project earned a LEED Gold certification for sustainability, and during the renovations, a time capsule was sealed into the new back ramp—preserving a piece of alumni history for future generations.

After building renovations were completed in 2011, the Alumni Association returned as the sole occupant of the Donohoe Alumni House.

On March 23, 2019 the building was renamed the Bannan Alumni House, honoring both Fr. Bannan and the Bannan family, more than 200 of whom have attended classes, been married in the Mission, and been christened in the chapel since 1919.

Inside, the large conference room was dedicated as the Donohoe Boardroom, ensuring that the Donohoe family’s foundational gift would always be remembered.

Dual Milestones

Since 1975, the Alumni House has provided a place for Broncos, past and present, to renew friendships, relive campus memories, and stay connected to the University. More than bricks and mortar, it has always embodied the Santa Clara tradition of cura personalis—first by caring for students’ health, and now by nurturing the Bronco family.

The next time you’re on campus, stop by to visit your home away from home and celebrate the history within this building’s walls (and, in the case of our attic, a bathtub from its past life).

As we celebrate 100 years of this cherished landmark—and 50 years as the home of the Alumni Association—we look ahead with pride, gratitude, and Bronco spirit to the next century of Santa Clara University memories.