Joan B. Kroc, age 75, noted philanthropist, passed away on October 12, 2003, in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. The cause of death was glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.

“We join our associates at Notre Dame in expressing our formal condolences to Mrs. Kroc’s daughter, granddaughters and grandchildren on the loss of this greathearted champion of peace and justice,” said Fr. Theodore Hesburgh and Kroc Institute director Scott Appleby in a joint statement. “Mrs. Kroc was single-minded in her dedication to eliminating the threat of nuclear weapons and all forms of deadly violence. The establishment and continuing support of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute was just one of several important initiatives she fostered in support of human rights, conflict transformation and peacebuilding around the world. She will be sorely missed.”

In the fall of 1998, Mrs. Kroc made a major gift to the Salvation Army to build and endow the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in San Diego, California. The center formally opened in June of 2002. In March of 1998, Mrs. Kroc advanced her vision of peace with a gift to the University of San Diego to establish the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice.

The Joan B. Kroc Foundation (1983-1990) addressed issues including substance abuse, world hunger, world peace and care for the terminally ill. Gifts were made to Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute; to the St. Vincent de Paul Joan Kroc Center for the Homeless in downtown San Diego; and San Diego Hospice to build a state-of-the art inpatient facility for the terminally ill. The Foundation also supported AIDS research.

Mrs. Kroc founded Operation Cork, a ten-year program from 1976-1986, to build awareness of chemical dependence and its impact on the family. During this period, she made major gifts to the Hazeleden foundation in Center City, Minnesota, and the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Mrs. Kroc was a professional musician and music teacher for many years. Her late husband, Ray Kroc, was the founder of McDonald’s Corporation. They married in 1969 and the Krocs relocated from Chicago to San Diego in 1976. Mrs. Kroc is survived by her daughter, four granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

The faculty, staff, students and alumni of the Kroc Institute were deeply saddened by her death. Many of them wrote to express their gratitude for what she had done for the world, and for each of them.

Here are just a few of their comments.

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mrs. Joan B. Kroc’s death. She has, through her kind heart and generosity, influenced many people who want to make a change in this conflict ridden world. As an alumni of the peace program at Notre Dame, I know that she has given me and my fellow Kroc Institute friends the tools to light the darkness in order to find the path towards peace. Faith during times of sadness is vital. Although I know that Mrs. Kroc was not of my faith, as a Buddhist, I can only say that Mrs. Kroc’s meritorious deeds are numerous and may she attain nibbhana (nirvana).

— Maneesha Pasqual, Sri Lanka, ‘02

No doubt Mrs. Kroc enabled many of us to explore the world in ways we could never have imagined prior to our experiences at the Kroc Institute at Notre Dame. Her generosity and curiosity has endowed a program that we hope will continue to teach and train academics and activists seeking meaningful (re)solution to complex issues and conflicts. We applaud her for this triumph. Further, Mrs. Kroc serves as a model for us as individuals: that our passion to engender a more peaceful world should, and can, be coupled with concerted efforts of philanthropy on our own part. I hope we may be inspired by Mrs. Kroc to integrate into our own moral and financial budgets ways to enable others to see the world differently.

— Rabbi Jonathan Crane, USA, ’97

Among Mrs. Kroc’s many admirable qualities, one stands out for me: her caring for other people and desire to alleviate human suffering. Once toward the end of a visit to Notre Dame, she insisted on bringing the fanfare of a hectic schedule of dazzling special events to a sudden halt. She silently slipped into the building that she had previously insisted should bear Father Hesburgh’s name (as he had insisted that the Institute should bear hers) for only one purpose: to meet 21 graduate students drawn to the Kroc Institute from all regions of the world to study peacemaking, and personally to thank them for committing themselves to full-time work for international peace and justice. She asked them about their motivations, fears, and hopes. Before she left, she quietly acknowledged that recent eruptions of violence around the world had left her discouraged, but that being able to talk with the students and sense their commitment had uplifted her. She connected quickly, deeply, and personally with others. She knew how to draw and to radiate spiritual strength from that infinite reservoir of good will that is shared by those committed to working for peace with a determination never, never to give up.

— Robert C. Johansen, Senior Fellow Professor of Political Science

Apparently, when asked about why he became a philanthropist, Mr. Ray Kroc said, “I never saw a Brinks armored truck following the hearse of a rich person.” Well, Mrs. Kroc’s hearse is not going to be followed by a Brinks armored truck, either. But all the persons that she has touched including mine will always remember her place in our lives and the whole world, witnessing the immortal task she has accomplished while she had the chance.

— Tsegaye Arrefe, Ethiopia, ’93

I was one of those lucky ones to meet with Mrs. Kroc in 1999 when she was kind enough to visit the Institute and discuss with us about our lives as Peace and Hesburgh scholars and how being at the Kroc had changed our views of the world. I was impressed by her sincerity and good heart as well as her smile and elegance. We have all been touched by Mrs. Kroc’s sincerity and benefitted from her generosity. I hope that others will take her as a great example and follow the path she so amply opened and maintained for the betterment of this somewhat messy world. Her great commitment to world peace shall be remembered by many generations to come.

— Binnur Ozkececi-Taner, Turkey, ’99

I sincerely believe that studying in the Kroc Institute was the best thing that has ever happened to me so far. It did transform my thinking and equipped me to play my role in the world as a better human being. I believe it’s certainly true of many others who are or have been affiliated with the Kroc Institute in any way. This all great work of transforming the hearts and souls wouldn’t have been possible without Mrs. Kroc’s generosity and commitment to world peace. May her soul rest in peace.

— Tahir Aziz, Pakistan, ’03

I am so sorry to hear that Mrs. Joan B. Kroc has passed away. It is owing to her own avowed peace work and involvement that many of us around the world could learn and then continue to work for peace. We have gained knowledge and insight and created an international network of like-minded friends. I hope that her family and friends such as Father Ted have good health and courage at this time of loss and sadness.

— Kaja Szwykowska, Poland, ’90

It’s sad to hear about the demise of Mrs. Kroc. We all must be really grateful to her for having left the embodiment of her generosity for us in the form of the Kroc Institute. Indeed this is (according to the Islamic tradition) a “Sadqai Jareya” — a contribution that would till eternity be there to attract God’s mercy and blessings for her. May God bless her soul with peace — which she so untiringly strived for. I personally as well as on behalf of all my friends at MA Peace Studies express profound grief on her sad demise, and solidarity with all her family and friends.

— Raouf Ahanger, India, current student

This morning I was very sad to receive the message that Mrs. Kroc passed away. She left us with a huge heritage of love and passion. I still remember clearly that I gave her a small picture of my husband’s photograph with McDonald’s logo. Actually we planned to go to the States for three months under the sponsorship of Asian Cultural Council to conduct a research on contemporary art in the U.S. and we were thinking of meeting her in San Diego. It was a great misfortune that she just left us all with great sadness. I am sure that she left in peace and love surrounded by all of us. May her soul stay in Paradise!

— Fang Zhang, People’s Republic of China, ’99

Two aspects of Mrs. Kroc’s interaction with our students and her interest in our program continue to stand out in my mind. First, she had a keen interest in the families of our students: who had they left behind? what sacrifices were being made to have them here in the U.S. studying peace? what did their family think of their work? This authentic interest resonated so well with these young people, but it was so consistent with Joan’s commitment to real people. Secondly, she had a “can do” attitude about her. This was not a “why don’t you do this?” query...but without being intrusive or mandating, she would say, “I know you can find a way to do that...” whatever the practical or programmatic dilemma might be. These are just two of the experiences which made her so refreshing a presence to us, even with infrequent visits.

— George Lopez, Senior Fellow, Director of Policy Studies

 

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