LONG TIME FORMER EMPLOEE LAID TO REST

John Degnin was the Abbey's first professional Development Director. He held that position from 1977 until 1999. Previous to accepting that position for the Abbey, he had been the Fire Chief for the city of Salem . Prior to service in Salem , he had worked for the fire department of Seattle, and kern county, California .

John had a strong love of the Church and accepted Abbot Anselm Galvin's invitation to be the Abbey's Development Director because "he wanted to do something for the Church and the Abbey" and "let everyone know the great work these Benedictine monks are doing." Initially, John raised the majority of the contributions through the Abbey's extensive direct mail list, which included donors from across the country. Soon, through, he moved into deferred giving, primarily bequests.

After John's retirement, Mr. Steve Beaird, Vice President of Development for Jesuit High School in Portland , became Development Director. Coming to Mount Angel , Mr. Beaird acknowledged, "John did an outstanding job on the planned giving programs. He has had provisions." Impressed by his predecessor's commitment to the Abbey, Mr. Beaird added, "While John's result was excellent; you measure a person by the quality of his heart. And what is in John's heart is love and devotion for the Abbey and the monks."

In recognizing John's twenty years of service to the Abbey at the time of his retirement, Abbot Joseph Wood voice his own appreciation for the service to the Abbey, "John established a fundraising program that has helped keep us in a solid financial condition over years. He also has a deep spiritual commitment to our work. His work has been a labor of love, and his deep love for the Abbey and the Church is humbling. John and Carolyn are both Benedictine Oblates of Mount Angel."

John is survived by his wife Carolyn (they were married for 62 years), his children: Ben, Francis, Catherine, Mike and Becky, and five grandchildren: John Francis, Michelle, Anna, Ian, and Xander.

John's ashes were interred in the small workers' Cemetery on the hilltop on May 27, 2019 . Abbot Jeremy Driscoll led the rites of committal.