Curry C.L. Montague
Curry C.L. Montague, who served as the principal custodian of the University of Notre Dame’s Main Building for some 30 years, died April 7 (Monday) at Sanctuary at Holy Cross in South Bend. He was 81.
Born Nov. 9, 1932, in Houlka, Miss., Montague moved to South Bend in 1947.
For almost 30 years until his retirement in 2000, Montague worked at Notre Dame in the University’s Main Building, a period which included a two-year restoration project completed in 1999. Over those years, Montague’s unique devotion to his work, his kindness to fellow staff members and the hospitable welcome he extended to all Main Building visitors attracted the attention, affection and admiration of the entire Notre Dame community.
“In a sense,” said Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president emeritus, “he was almost an icon of the building itself. His enthusiasm and upbeat perspective were shown continuously.”
In 2004, Montague’s name was added to Notre Dame’s Wall of Honor, a display on the Main Building’s ground floor recognizing “exceptional men and women whose contributions to Notre Dame are lasting, pervasive and profound.” According to his citation, one of 27 on the wall, Montague “provided the Notre Dame community and its guests with a congenial, memorable and inspiring example of how hard work, devoted service and charity transform duty into joy.”