Father Edmund P. “Ned” Joyce, CSC, ‘37, Father Hesburgh’s right-hand man during Hesburgh’s 35-year presidency, moved to Holy Cross House last fall after a severe stroke.
Joyce, who turns 86 in January, suffered the stroke in his Corby Hall residence September 20, 2002, and remained hospitalized in South Bend for more than a month. He is using a wheelchair and is to remain at the order’s care center indefinitely. As of early November he remained weak and was taking only brief visits from friends.
Among those helping care for him is his younger brother, Lyle Joyce ‘44, a professional actor in Paris for the past 45 years. During Lyle’s stay he has been living in his brother’s room in Corby Hall. The middle Joyce brother, Jack ’41, passed away several years ago.
The University’s executive vice president emeritus, Father Joyce retired from Notre Dame in 1987 after 35 years of service. He was Notre Dame’s chief financial officer during the Hesburgh administration and presided over the construction of some 40 campus buildings. He also helped boost the endowment from $9 million to $400 million and was very involved in athletics. The Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center is named for him.