David Foran, an emeritus professor in the then-College of Journalism and former head of public relations for the university, passed away in Glendale, Wisconsin on July 28. He was 89 years old.
Foran, Jour ’59, made a deep impact on Marquette as an educator, staff member and student. He taught at the College of Journalism from 1975 to 1981, teaching print and broadcast news as well as feature writing. During this time, Foran was also Marquette’s associate director of public relations. In 1981, Foran was promoted to executive director of public relations.
His relationship with Marquette University began when he enrolled in 1955. Four years later, he graduated, after having been co-editor of the Marquette Hilltop and sports editor of the Marquette Tribune. In 1959, he received the Sigma Delta Chi certificate, recognizing him as an outstanding graduate of the College of Journalism.
Foran also held positions at the Catholic Herald Citizen, the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Public Television; he served as director of public relations and advertising for the latter from 1994 until his retirement in 1999. He was a chair and president of Milwaukee’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter, president of the Milwaukee Pen & Mike Club and president of the Human Relations Radio-Television Council of Milwaukee.
While at Marquette, Foran met Donna Rae Skovira, his future wife. The couple married in 1960. He is survived by Donna Rae, five children (Christopher, Patrick, Timothy, Anne and Mary, all of whom are Marquette alumni), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at St. Monica Catholic Church, at 5681 N. Santa Monica Blvd. in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. Funeral Mass will follow at 4 p.m. The Foran family has requested donations to Marquette University, the Marquette Foran Family Immediate Support Scholarship Fund or Milwaukee PBS in lieu of flowers.
Our entire community holds David and his family in our prayers. We are deeply grateful for his years of service to Marquette.
