In Memoriam
We give thanks for the following Jesuits who have gone home to God.
Fr. R. Gerard Albright, SJ
April 1, 1926 – September 22, 2023
“He is most remarkable in my mind for the way generations of students appreciated him–both for his excellent teaching and for his coveted personal recommendations.”
Professor of 19 different courses (often to pre-medicine and pre-dental students), residence hall chaplain, chair of the biology department, and dean of the Liberal Arts College at the University of Detroit Mercy; started a committee on student evaluation and was the main letter writer in the program, which provided thousands of letters of recommendation for students applying to medical or dental school; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. George A. Lane, SJ
July 29, 1934 – November 12, 2023
“George’s pastoral work in Chicago and, especially, at Holy Family was marked with a genuine care for the poor and for people living a very simple and modest life at the margins.”
English teacher at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago; ministered at Loyola Press for almost 50 years as editorial director and associate director of the press, director, president and publisher; coordinated efforts that saved and helped renovate Holy Family Parish in Chicago, one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; superior of the Woodlawn Jesuit Community; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. Eugene J. Carmichael, SJ
July 6, 1941 – November 21, 2023
“Gene was a devoted Jesuit priest. People gravitated to him because of his care, concern and love of them.”
Vocation director of Chicago Province; director of Loyola Youth Retreat House in Cincinnati and director of youth ministry at Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford, Ohio; campus minister, associate dean of students, assistant director of the health and counseling center, administrator of St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel, associate vice president for mission and ministry, interim vice president of student development, interim vice president for mission and identity, and spiritual counselor at Xavier University in Cincinnati; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. Denis A. Dirscherl, SJ
May 10, 1934 – September 28, 2023
“Perhaps his most edifying virtue was his obedience. He represented what he thought the Spirit was calling him to do but would always honor the decision of his superiors.”
Latin and speech teacher at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago; director of reserve chaplain affairs at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia; Latin and Russian teacher at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati; Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia, South Carolina; Lehman High School in Sidney, Ohio; Williamsport High School in Williamsport, Maryland; and Annapolis High School in Annapolis, Maryland; Air Force auxiliary Catholic chaplain; retired with rank of Colonel after 28 years of military service; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. M. Dennis Hamm, SJ
January 18, 1936 – November 19, 2023
“Dennis was a gentle, patient, faithful brother. It was a grace to live with him.”
English teacher at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha; English professor, theology professor and theology professor emeritus at Creighton University in Omaha for almost 50 years; expert on the Gospel of Luke, and wrote four books and more than 100 articles on topics relating to the New Testament and its implications for Jewish-Christian relations; author of the 1994 America magazine article “Rummaging for God: Praying Backwards through Your Day,” an approach to introducing people to the value of the Examen and helping them feel less intimidated by the prospect of a daily Examen; missioned to St. Camillus.
Fr. Hubert G. Boschert, SJ
September 5, 1937 – November 25, 2023
“Bert’s gentle, peaceable nature was such a blessing to be around.”
History and math teacher, assistant prefect of studies and principal at Red Cloud Indian School at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota; associate pastor of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Mankato, Minn.; pastor at Saint Gabriel Parish in Prairie du Chien, Wis.; Saint Stephen Parish in Bridgewater, S.D.; the Church of Saint Joseph Parish in Owatonna, Minn.; and Saint Edward Parish in Austin, Minn.; senior associate pastor at Christ the King Parish in Omaha; assistant to the rector, pastoral minister at Creighton University in Omaha; missioned to St. Camillus.
Fr. Gene M. Donatelli, SJ
February 13, 1950 – November 29, 2023
“Gino’s creativity was exceptional and his capacity to engage the people he served was remarkable.”
English teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill.; English teacher and director of pastoral ministry at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago; associate pastor of Cathedral of Christ the King (1995-1998) and Ss. Peter, Paul, and Peter Claver Churches in Lexington, Ky.; chaplain at Loyola University Chicago’s Medical Center; parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church; Ss. Francis and John Church; and Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, Ky.; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. M. John Wymelenberg, SJ
May 21, 1926 – January 18, 2024
“Ask any Jesuit about John and you would hear that he was a gentle, holy man.”
Teacher at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee; physics professor and pastoral minister at Creighton University; chaplain at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, Iowa; had an abiding interest in physics, especially around the theory of light; published the 1999 article “Three-Dimensional Complex Analysis and Maxwell’s Equations” in Physics Essays; missioned to St. Camillus.
Fr. James J. King, SJ
August 21, 1929 – January 30, 2024
“Jim was a prayerful and devoted priest. He loved being a Jesuit and engaging people — especially sacramentally.”
English and Latin teacher at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati; theology teacher, student counselor, director of public relations, director and moderator of the Alumni Association, and alumni chaplain at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; vocation director of Detroit Province; missioned to St. Camillus.
Fr. Daniel P. Liderbach, SJ
March 17, 1941 – February 1, 2024
“Dan was a devoted Jesuit, priest, teacher, and scholar. He had an inquisitive and open mind which helped him to consider issues and situations from different points of view.”
Math teacher at St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy in Toledo, Ohio; worked at University of Detroit; religious studies professor at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, and Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.; ministered at Holy Family Parish in Parma, Ohio; author of eight books and many articles; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. Donald R. Matthys, SJ
February 23, 1936 – January 30, 2024
“Don had a large heart for people in need. He was a faithful Jesuit priest.”
Latin and math teacher at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee; physics professor and professor emeritus at Marquette University in Milwaukee; chair of the Optical Methods Division and vice president of the Applied Optics Group of the Society for Experimental Mechanics; consultant to AT&T on deformations in microcircuit modules; awarded summer faculty fellowships at NASA and received the Space Act Tech Brief Award from the NASA Inventions and Contributions Board; missioned to St. Camillus.
To read the full obituaries of Jesuits who have gone home to God, visit us at www.jesuitsmidwest.org/In-Memoriam
IN THIS ISSUE
Photo: This painting of Pope Francis was created by Cincinnati artist Holly Schapker (www.hollyschapker.com), a 1992 graduate of Xavier University.