In Memoriam
We give thanks for the following Jesuits who have gone home to God.
Fr. Joseph N. Pershe, SJ
March 2, 1934 – August 7, 2022
“Joe was a faithful Jesuit priest and a kind pastor. He dedicated his life to bringing Christ to those who were sick, lonely, or in need.”
Latin and math teacher at Campion Jesuit High School and Marquette University High School; associate pastor at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Mankato, Minn.; chaplain at Metropolitan Hospital and Coler Hospital, both in New York, N.Y.; pastoral minister at LaStorta Apostolic Community and Abbott Northwestern Hospital, both in Minneapolis; pastoral minister in Omaha; missioned to St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Milwaukee, Wis.
Fr. John P. Coakley, SJ
July 21, 1940 – September 27, 2022
“Mike has been a ‘poster-man’ for the stature of the vocation of the Jesuit brothers and the Society of Jesus within the Catholic and secular world.”
English teacher at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis; retreat director at the Youth Retreat House at Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio; leadership team member at Loyola House Jesuit Novitiate; campus minister at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati; chaplain at Murray State University in Kentucky; member of the ministry team at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill.; missioned to be a chaplain in the cardiac unit at the Loyola University Medical Center; resident of Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich.
Fr. Patrick J. Boyle, SJ
March 13, 1932 – October 25, 2022
“Pat was there for his guys, risking his life in hot action to defend and care for the wounded and dying. He was, I believe, one of the most decorated chaplains in the Vietnam War.”
Latin teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill.; assistant principal for discipline at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati; chaplain in the U.S. Army; director of the Jesuit Retreat League at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, Ill.; moral theology professor at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.; missioned to St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Milwaukee, Wis.
Fr. John W. O’Malley, SJ
June 11, 1927 – September 11, 2022
“He was loved by his brother Jesuits, students and friends as a person—a holy and generous Jesuit priest—unfailingly kind, helpful, generous, mild, curious, modest and always interested in you.”
History teacher and chair of Religious Studies Department at the University of Detroit, now the University of Detroit Mercy; acting dean and later acting president at Weston School of Theology (later the Weston Jesuit School of Theology) in Cambridge, Mass.; elected by his Jesuit province as a member of two General Congregations, the ultimate governing body in the Society of Jesus; author of the book The First Jesuits, and four others on ecumenical councils, including What Happened at Vatican II and Trent: What Happened at the Council; professor of church history at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; resident of the St. Claude de la Colombière Jesuit community in Baltimore.
Fr. Thomas L. Schubeck, SJ
March 21, 1936 – October 13, 2022
“Tom was a model of availability, accepting as best he could even hard assignments. And for his example we can all be thankful.”
Biology, English and Latin teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill.; professor of social ethics and moral theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif.; novice director at Loyola House Jesuit Novitiate; professor of theology and Christian social ethics, and chair of religious studies department at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio; missioned to Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich.
Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, SJ
September 13, 1931 – November 8, 2022
“Nothing seemed to get him down or depress him, and with that kind of spirit, who could lose? As they say, Jerry was a Jesuit’s Jesuit.”
Physics, math, and speech teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill.; professor of management at Wayne State University in Detroit; holder of the Charles J. Dirksen Chair in Business Ethics at Santa Clara University in California; professor of business management, academic vice-president and provost, holder of the Charles Fisher Chair of Business Ethics, interim dean of the College of Business Administration, and a professor of management at University of Detroit Mercy.
Fr. Frederick E. Brenk, SJ
July 18, 1929 – December 3, 2022
“Fred exemplified cura personalis for everyone he encountered.”
Latin and Greek teacher at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha; professor and researcher at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Tufts University in Medford, Mass., Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and Fordham University in New York, N.Y.; professor for the Greek and Roman background of the Old and New Testament at Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome; expert on Plutarch, authored five books and more than 100 articles.
Fr. Joseph G. Mueller, SJ
January 2, 1960 – January 12, 2023
“Joe was one of the most kind, gentle and serene Jesuits I have ever known. His deep peace was rooted in his love of Jesus and the joy of the Gospel.”
French teacher at University of Detroit Jesuit High School; associate professor of theology at Marquette University in Milwaukee; associate dean for academic affairs in Marquette University’s Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences; director of graduate studies and assistant chairman for Marquette University’s department of theology; rector of the Marquette University Jesuit Community; represented the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches of Christ; appointed dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in California.
Fr. Joseph F. Eagan, SJ
October 29, 1922 – December 20, 2022
“Joe had an indomitable capacity for scholarship, friendship, and pastoral care. He never retired intellectually. He just slowed down physically in his 90s.”
English and speech teacher at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha and Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie Du Chien, Wis.; director of campus ministries at Creighton University in Omaha; professor of theology at the University of San Francisco; author of the book Dynasty, the Story of USF Soccer, 1931-1997; associate pastor and parochial vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Ross, Calif., and an associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Larkspur, Calif.; writer and pastoral minister at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Milwaukee, Wis.
Fr. Casper J. “Cap” Miller
December 13, 1933 – January 15, 2023
“Father Cap was more like a friend than a counsellor and was always surrounded by students, like ants surrounding a sugar cube.”
Missionary in remote and urban Nepal for more than 64 years; teacher and principal at St. Xavier’s School in Godavari; principal of St. Xavier’s School, Jawakhel; research writer at Human Resource Development and Research Centre; author of the books Faith-Healers in the Himalayas, Decision Making in Village Nepal and To Yourself Be True.
