Brendan Randall

Brendan Walter Randall, 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 advised 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, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN on Sunday, August 13 at 12:00 p.m. A memorial service for the extended Harvard community will be held at Eliot Lyman, Longfellow Hall, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 13 Appian Way, Cambridge, MA on Friday, October 13 at 3:00 p.m.



In lieu of flowers, ​Brendan's family has requested that donations be made in his memory to Interfaith Youth Core. IFYC epitomized the concepts and values that Brendan committed himself to as a scholar, educator, and change-maker. You can learn about their important work at www.ifyc.org and donate directly here; just note in the comments that it is in memory of Brendan. Those who wish to honor Brendan's many commitments to K-12 education and to Harvard may donate to the Harvard Teacher Fellows Program. HTF prepares Harvard undergraduates to promote educational equity by providing them rigorous preparation and support for teaching in high-need urban schools. To make a gift, please visit https://community.alumni.harvard.edu/give/13066245 and select "other" under the fund selection and indicate in the "other fund name" field that this gift is for Harvard Teacher Fellows Support Fund, in memory of Brendan Randall. You may also honor Brendan's legacy by treating each other with kindness and respect in every encounter.