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Katherine Donahue Freyvogel

Katherine Donahue Freyvogel Katherine Donahue Freyvogel is the first of thirteen children born to John and Rhodora Donahue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Katherine and her husband, Thomas J. Freyvogel, Jr., have been married for 35 years and are the parents of 7 children and grandparents of 3. They are members of St. Scholastica Parish. The members of their extensive families are now in their third generation of philanthropic support to a broad range of missions and institutions of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Freyvogel is a graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Academy and Chatham College.

After graduation, she embarked on a career of volunteerism in numerous non-profit organizations, including more than 30 years with St Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind. She has served as president and treasurer of the board of directors, chair of the 25th Medallion Ball and chair of the Junior Medallion Committee. She is a current board member. One of Mrs. Freyvogel’s daughters was chair of the Ball last year, and all five of them have participated in the 100 hours of community service required to be presented with the Joan of Arc medal at the Ball.

She has also been a member for more than two decades of the 25 Club of Magee Women’s Hospital, dedicated to raising funds for neonatal research. She was named to the St. Vincent Seminary Board of Regents, and served as vice chair of the advisory board, membership committee during her six years there. She also was elected to the National Advisory Council of the National Association of Catholic Bishops and served for four years. She has also been a member of the Epiphany Association for 25 years. It is an organization dedicated to providing the formational and educational resources needed for the in-depth, ongoing spiritual renewal of life and world in the light of the Judeo-Christian faith and formation tradition. Her dedication and service to the Church has resulted in being named a Dame of Magisterial Grace in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Federal Association, USA in 1996. Her husband, Thomas Freyvogel, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Order of Malta. She also was a member of the Board of Directors. In 2003, she was named a Dame of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great by then-Bishop of Pittsburgh Donald Wuerl. That involvement in support of Catholic education led to her being invited to serve as President of the board of directors of Oakland Catholic High School, established in 1988 for young women in the diocese.

All five of Mrs. Freyvogel’s daughters have attended Oakland Catholic with the youngest to graduate this year. It is also notable that her two sons graduated from Central Catholic and all the children beyond high school have completed degrees at Catholic colleges and universities. In 1997, Mrs. Freyvogel was named president of Oakland Catholic High School and has led a major capital campaign to renovate and expand the physical plant with the dedication in 2004 of the Donahue Pavilion, including a new gymnasium, fine arts and graphic arts studios, student lounge, health and fitness center, locker rooms and redesigned kitchen and dining hall. The dedication followed almost a year of construction and marked completion of phase one of the school’s capital campaign. Subsequent phases will result in a new chapel, science wing, library, theater, seminar rooms and renovations to educational facilities in the school building and the outdoor courtyard. The campaign is in keeping with the school’s mission to help each student reach her full potential spiritually, academically, and personally. Oakland Catholic is Pittsburgh’s premiere allwomen, Catholic, college-preparatory school. It is known throughout the region for high academic standards combined with a wide-range of sports and extracurricular offerings. When renovations are complete the school will accommodate 525 students. These young women, from diverse religious and socio economic backgrounds receive an academically excellent, faith and values based education. The growth and success of the school have been led by Katherine Donahue Freyvogel from its beginning. The school is perhaps one of the best examples of the dedication, energy and leadership that have marked Mrs. Freyvogel’s career of service – indeed her entire family’s service to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and to the larger community.