Jesuit Development Office
Obituaries
"Generous men whose good name lives on with them into the next generations..." (Psalm 89)
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Father William A. Stewart, S.J.
Father William Stewart, 93, died at home—René Goupil House, Pickering Ontario—on March 5, 2009, after only a few hours of feeling unwell. He was in his 72nd year as a Jesuit and 60th year as a priest.
William Arthur Stewart was born in Montreal on August 21, 1915 and entered the Jesuit Noviceship at Guelph on September 7, 1937 following studies at Loyola College. Between first studies in the humanities and theology, he taught classics at Loyola High School, Montreal. Cardinal James McGuigan ordained him a priest on June 27, 1949.
When Father Stewart went to Saint Mary’s in Halifax it was planned that he would stay for a year or two before going to Rome for higher studies; indeed, it was several years before he unpacked his trunk. But just as a Jesuit must be prepared to leave for another appointment on short notice, so too he must be prepared to stay on when needed. Eventually, Father Stewart was stationed in Halifax close to forty-eight years before physical limitations necessitated his transfer to the Jesuit Infirmary in 1998.
At Saint Mary's University, Father Stewart acted as Professor of Philosophy, Librarian, Prefect of Studies, Academic Vice-President and Professor Emeritus. For many years he served as Moderator of the Dramatic Society, labouring long hours constructing stage sets and in all that goes into theatrical productions. His academic achievements were recognized with honorary doctorates from Saint Mary’s and Toronto’s Regis College. The memory of his affectionate personality, creative intellect and patient tranquility will be cherished by many.
Father Tibor Horvath, S.J.,
Theologian and Writer
Father Tibor Horvath, a Hungarian Jesuit theologian, died on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at René Goupil House, Pickering, Ontario in his 81st year, 62nd year of religious life and 51st of priesthood. Born on July 28, 1927 in Hungary, he entered the Hungarian Province of the Society of Jesus on July 30, 1946. As a young Jesuit he escaped from Hungary—then under the Communist domination— and studied in various parts of Europe, being ordained a priest in Granada, Spain on July 30, 1957. Afterwards he completed a doctorate in theology at Rome’s Gregorian University on the virtue of charity in St. Thomas Aquinas.
Father Horvath came to Canada in 1962, joining a community of Hungarian Jesuits here. For 35 years, from 1962- 1997, he was Professor of Theology at Regis College, Toronto. Considered a brilliant and exciting professor, he founded and edited Ultimate Reality and Meaning, an encyclopaedic project which continues to this day. In 1994, he returned to Hungary for two years to serve as founding principal of a Jesuit High School. Later, his ministry was scholarly writing: he completed most of a trilogy on the whole of systematic theology, based on the virtues of faith, love and hope (McGill-Queens).
A gentle, kind man and an intelligent conversation partner, he encouraged younger Jesuits to engage in the intellectual ministry. He was much appreciated at Canadian Martyrs’ Residence, 2 Dale Avenue, where he lived from 1977. As with other Hungarian colleagues who escaped persecution in their own country and came to Canada, he has made a signal contribution to the work of the Jesuit order here and abroad. He is buried in the Hungarian Jesuit Cemetery in Courtland, Ontario.
Brother Eugene D. Hughes, S.J.
Brother Eugene D. Hughes, 77, died at Rouge Valley (Ajax-Pickering) Hospital, on January 12, 2009 in the 51st year of his Jesuit religious life.
Born into a large family at Dromore, Prince Edward Island on July 25, 1932, Eugene Hughes began postulancy for the Jesuit Brotherhood in September 1957 and took his cassock on March 11, 1958 to begin novitiate. He was among the first brothers to have juniorate studies in Milford, Ohio as part of their formation.
After this initial training, Brother Hughes was assigned to maintenance of the boilers at Regis College, Willowdale (1962 to 1972). There he made profession of final vows as a Jesuit Brother before Father Provincial Angus J. Macdougall on August 15, 1968. Transferred to Ignatius College in Guelph, he served as a mechanic from 1972 to 1980, and then assisted with maintenance and caretaker duties in several communities in the Toronto area and Guelph.
During his later years in Guelph (1984-96), he worked at Sister Christine’s drop-in centre where the men and women appreciated his visits. At times Brother Gene suffered from ill health and depression, so that his last years of ministry were those of prayer for the Church and the Society of Jesus at René Goupil House, Pickering. Brother Gene was musically gifted and shared his talents with others. There were years when he would attend fiddle festivals, enter competitions and bring joy to many through his music.
Father Edmund Toreki, S.J.
Father Edmund Toreki, 89, died on August 23, 2008 at René Goupil House (the Jesuit Infirmary) in Pickering in his 72nd year of religious life. Born in Pecel, Hungary on August 14, 1919, he entered the Society’s Hungarian Province on his 18th birthday. He followed the usual studies and was ordained a priest on June 29, 1948 in Szeged, Hungary.
In 1950, he moved to Rome to work as a writer for Vatican Radio and did his final year of spiritual formation in Ireland the following year. In1952, he began pastoral work in Canada at St. Stephen’s Church in Hamilton, Ontario, then taught at St. Paul’s High School,Winnipeg from 1953-58. Following a brief stint in New York, he returned to Canada to teach at Regiopolis College in Kingston, Ontario.
Becoming a member of the English Canada Province in 1962, he did pastoral work at St. Ignatius Parish, Montreal. In subsequent years, he exercised pastoral ministries in Guelph and Pickering, Ontario. From 1970-1982, he served at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Ottawa and from 1982-2001 with Hungarian parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Windsor, Ontario.
In relatively good health until a few days before his death, he was a caring pastor and a fine teacher, well appreciated by those who lived with him as a quiet and smiling companion.
Father William P Maurice, S.J.
Father William Maurice, long-time Northern Ontario missioner, passed away on April 14, 2008 in Thunder Bay at the age of 92. Born in Lachine, Quebec on January 13, 1916 William Maurice entered the Jesuits after completing high school at Ingersoll, Ontario on September 7, 1937. After first studies, he taught at Garnier Residential School, Spanish, Ontario then at Loyola High School, Montreal. He was ordained a priest by James Cardinal McGuigan on June 25, 1950.
In 1952, Fr. Maurice embarked on his life-long pastoral ministry to the Native People. Except for a two-year break (1958-60) at Campion High School, Regina, his entire life was spent in Northern Ontario: at Spanish (1952-60); Armstrong (1960-63); then—from 1963-1978—as pastor, visiting missionary, chaplain, author and other occupations at the missions of Port Arthur and Fort William—now Thunder Bay. He served as superior and pastor at Wikwemikong’s Holy Cross Mission on Manitoulin Island from 1978-84.
In 1984 Fr. Bill moved to Beardmore, northeast of Thunder Bay, and started the project that would end at his death, deciphering and transcribing original baptism, marriage and death records for the Thunder Bay area Jesuit missions from 1848 to 1984. At 75 years of age, he moved to St. Anne’s, Thunder Bay as co-pastor. He lent his skills to community development and as a social services worker and is remembered especially for encouraging the annual powwows on Mt. McKay.
Father J. Brian Peckham, S.J.
An expert in ancient languages, Father Brian Peckham died of lung cancer at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, on October 19, 2008; he was 74 years old and in the 58th year of his religious life.
John Brian Peckham was born January 28, 1934, in Westmount, Québec. After graduating from Loyola High School, Montréal, he entered the Jesuits on September 7, 1951. Following first studies, he taught high school at Regiopolis, Kingston and St. Mary’s, Halifax. In 1960, he began studies in ancient oriental languages, earning his doctorate from Harvard University in 1964. His theology studies were done at Lyon, France, with priestly ordination taking place at Regis College on June 3, 1967.
Professor of Bible at Regis from 1968 to 1976, he served as Dean of Studies during the last two years. Continuing on the faculty of Regis, from 1978 he held a cross-appointment in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilization at the Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto, becoming Professor Emeritus in 2000.
Father Peckham was recognized for scholarship in his field as the author of three major works on Late Phoenician Scripts (1968), formation of Deuteronomistic History (1985) and a study of history and prophecy, the development of late Judean literary traditions (1993) and more than twenty critical articles. A brilliant teacher and beloved friend, in 2007 he was honoured by academic colleagues with a Festschrift— a collection of learned writings—From Babel to Babylon.
Father John Veltri, S.J.
A well-known spiritual director, Father John Veltri, 75, died October 27, 2008 at René Goupil House in Pickering, Ontario in the 59th year of his religious life.
A native of St. Boniface, Manitoba where he was born April 4, 1933, he entered the Jesuit Order on August 14, 1950 after studies at St. Paul’s College,Winnipeg. After studies in the humanities and philosophy, he served five years as a teacher among the Native Peoples at Spanish, Ontario, and then in Kingston, Ontario at Regiopolis College. Ordained a priest at Regis College by Bishop Francis V. Allen on June 5, 1965, Father Veltri’s principal ministry was that of a spiritual direction first at Loyola House, Guelph and later at Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering.
Skilled in this pastoral ministry, Father John collaborated with Jesuits, notably Fr. John English, in finding new ways to present St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. He wrote several workbooks on spirituality still in use. Cheerful, spontaneous and open to new ideas, he used art and film in his workshops and presentations.
Father Veltri suffered from muscular dystrophy and was confined to a wheelchair beginning in 1986. Though his mobility deteriorated, he remained active and fostered spiritual activities through his personal website. A friend and guide to many, Father John was appreciated for his warm personality, positive outlook on life and the personal help he gave.
Fr. Carl Starkloff, S.J.
Fr. Carl Starkloff, 75, died August 14, 2008 at Saint Louis University Hospital after a long battle with leukemia.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 3, 1933, Carl entered the Society at Florissant, Missouri, on August 8, 1952, and was ordained on June 9, 1965, at St. Mary’s College in Kansas.
After his ordination Carl earned a doctorate in theology from the University of Ottawa before being assigned to the faculty at Rockhurst College in Kansas City where he taught from 1968 to 1974.While there he developed a formation program for permanent deacons.
After a year of teaching at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, he was assigned to St. Stephen’s Indian Mission in Wyoming, where he was both a director of the Mission and superior of the Jesuit Community. It was here that he developed an appreciation of the First Nations People and their culture.
In 1981 Carl returned to Canada where for nearly twenty years he was a professor of theology and missiology at Regis College in Toronto. He also worked extensively with the permanent deacons at the Anishinabe Spiritual Center in Northern Ontario. In 1999 he returned to his native St. Louis.
He will be remembered as a fine scholar and teacher, a good confessor and homilist, and a cherished friend and Jesuit companion.
Father John C. Trainor, S.J.
The last of the three Jesuit priest Trainor brothers from Kinkora, Prince Edward Island (he was predeceased by Lorne and Emmett), John C. Trainor passed away at the Jesuit Infirmary on July 30, 2008 at the age of 75.
Born on February 5, 1933, he entered the Jesuit Novitiate on September 7, 1953 after obtaining his college degree from St. Dunstan’s College, Charlottetown. In 1958, he joined the first group of Canadian scholastics to transfer from Toronto’s Jesuit Seminary to Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane,Washington for studies in philosophy. He taught at Loyola High School before studies in theology at the new Regis College,Willowdale, where Peterborough Bishop Benjamin Webster ordained him a priest on June 4, 1966.
Father Trainor began a long period of secondary school teaching and counselling at Campion High School, Regina from 1968 until 1971, when he joined the group of twelve Jesuits who had founded Gonzaga High School and St. Pius X Parish in St. John’s. He taught there until 1981 while also acting as Rector (1973-1980) and Principal (1975-1981). After a sabbatical, he moved to St. Paul’s High School in Winnipeg, where he continued teaching for three years, serving also as Superior of the Jesuit community.
In 1985, after 17 years in high school administration and teaching, he moved to Halifax where for 18 years he served as a spiritual counsellor and retreat director. In July 2003, health difficulties began—which led to the leg amputation that he bore bravely—and required his move to René Goupil House, Pickering.
Father George P. Leach, S.J.
Father George Leach, 71 - author, scholar, athlete, pastor, missionary and spiritual director - died suddenly of heart failure on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 in his Jesuit community house in Toronto where he served as Rector of Regis College.
Fr. Leach was the author of two books that interpreted the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola for today, held a doctorate in ministry from Toronto School of Theology, and had a long history of ministry among Ontario's Native People. In 2007, he was inducted into the Saint Mary's University Sports Hall of Fame in Halifax as a symbol of the ideal of amateur athletics in football, basketball, hockey and canoeing.
Father Leach spent years preparing native men for ordination into the diaconate and the priesthood. He also directed lay and diaconal formation programs in Halifax, was pastor of parishes in Thunder Bay, Toronto and Lower Sackville, NS and directed mission offices serving missionaries in Canada and overseas.
A noted spiritual director, he twice served as novice master forming young Jesuits in the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola. Before ordination on June 1, 1968, he taught at Gonzaga High School in St. John's, NL, coached athletics and directed the drama club.