For their decades of dedication and service to Bishop Noll and the Northwest Indiana community, Bishop Noll selected Paul L. and Bette Doherty to join its Hall of Honor for 2016.
During the annual donor reception and Hall of Honor induction, they were honored in the Outstanding Catholic Family category. Paul and Bette, who was honored posthumously, sent six children to Bishop Noll and continued to serve after they all graduated.
During a special ceremony, Paul received a framed medal to show Noll’s gratitude for his service.
“They have helped Noll in so many ways through their time, talent and treasure,” said Mary Ellen O’ Neill, Bishop Noll’s director of advancement.
Son Paul Doherty, Bishop Noll class of 1968, introduced his father, saying their family was excited and proud of their parents. His siblings include Peter ’71, Philip ’74, Mary Beth ’75, Jeannie ’82 and John ’84. In addition, two of Paul’s grandchildren attended Noll – Peter ’99 and Colleen ’02.
He noted his father’s involvement within the Bishop Noll community and Northwest Indiana community as a whole, in addition to his work with the Diocese of Gary Catholic Charities and the Town of Highland.
“The other person I think is really important to talk about is our mother,” Paul said. “She was very influential in our development and the decision to send us all to Catholic schools.”
In the 1960s, their family moved to Northwest Indiana and started sending the children to Our Lady of Grace in Highland and from there, to Bishop Noll, he said.
After his son’s introduction, Paul L. took the podium to share words of thanks and memories of his “six beautiful children and the most gorgeous and wonderful wife who ever lived.
“Unfortunately she will not be with us tonight. I’m sure she is enjoying heaven. That’s where she wanted to go and I’m sure she is there,” he said of Bette, who passed away Dec. 6, 2012.
Paul L. went on to thank those in attendance including his special guests Bishop Emeritus Dale Melczek, Monsignor Joseph Semancik, and Father Edward Moszur, Doherty’s pastor at Our Lady of Grace.
Paul L. spent more than three decades involved in Catholic Charities with Semancik, he said, serving as president of the organization for eight years.
He remembered an important lesson once told to him that ended with the ideas of “Keep your head straight, keep your faith where it belongs … We tried to do that,” he said.
“I’ve had good fortune, I’ve had excellent fortune. I want to thank Bishop Noll for the good education they gave to our kids. Each one of them has been a marvel and their mother raised them well, taught them the ins and outs of life and I did as much as I possibly could to assist in that.”
The Dohertys have 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
“I thank you for being here. I want to thank all the volunteers for the job that you can place no dollar figure on. They do very good work every day for the school here and their community making it the success that it is.”
For more information on Bishop Noll, a Catholic college preparatory experience, visit bishopnoll.org.