Brendan Walter Randall

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Randall, Brendan Walter aged 51, lately of Chicago, IL but always a Minnesotan, died on July 9, 2017 after an accident. A learned man and a Humanist, Brendan was working on his doctorate in religion and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His thesis framed his desire to build mutually respectful understandings of religion in a variety of school settings. As Senior Consultant, Campus Engagement at Interfaith Youth Core, Brendan travelled the country, speaking and facilitating workshops at colleges, universities, and schools. Previously Brendan worked with Harvard University, the Emma Willard School, and as an attorney. At Harvard, Brendan served as a Proctor and Advisor with the Freshman Dean's Office, and as an Assistant Dean for the Secondary School Program of the Harvard Summer School, among other roles. He was a Senior Researcher for the Pluralism Project. At the Emma Willard School, Brendan taught courses in History, Government, and Law. He dorm parented, coached Speech, Debate, and Mock Trial, and led the residential program GirlSummer. As an attorney, he clerked with the Hon. C. Arlen Beam, judge on the 8th District U.S. Federal Courts, then practiced with Faegre and Benson, and then Leonard, Street, and Deinard. Throughout his time as a lawyer, Brendan coached Mock Trial, led delegations to Harvard Model Congress, and headed the Appeals Court program area for MN YMCA's Youth in Government. Prior to his admission to the doctoral program, Brendan earned degrees from Harvard Divinity School (M.T.S., 2009), Harvard Graduate School of Education (M.Ed., 2007), the University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., 1991), and Harvard College (A.B., 1988). While an undergraduate at Harvard, he co-founded the Harvard Model Congress. He graduated in 1984 from Bloomington Jefferson High School (MN). Brendan is survived by his wife Cathleen Coyle Randall, his mother Mary Ann (Hunt) Randall, his siblings, Colleen Randall (Jeffrey Friedman), Michael Randall, Brigid Randall, Maura Randall (Gregory Kutcher), and Brian Randall (Mary Kemen), eight nieces and nephews, extended family, and countless former students, friends, and colleagues. Brendan was preceded in death by his father Charles V. Randall. Memorial services are scheduled for Weyerhaeuser Chapel, Macal-ester College, St. Paul, MN on Sunday, August 13 at 12:00 p.m. A memorial service for the extended Harvard community will be held in Cambridge, MA in October, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to Interfaith Youth Core at ifyc.org or 312-376-4764. You may also honor Brendan's legacy by treating each other with kindness and respect in every encounter.

Published on July 23, 2017