Submitted by: Dan Rich

Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Rev. William A. Toohey CSC

June 2, 1930 – Oct. 13, 1980

 

South Bend Tribune 10/13/1980 (Excerpts)

Rev. William A. Toohey CSC, 50, director of Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame, died this morning in St. Joseph Hospital, where he was admitted Oct. 1 after collapsing at a staff meeting. He was being treated for viral encephalitis. He was a strong advocate for social justice. He had received recognition in 1973 for writing then-President Richard Nixon criticizing his anti-amnesty policy for Vietnam draft-dodgers. He was born June 2, 1930 in Racine, Wis. and was graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1952. He subsequently served in the US Marine Corp and entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross in 1955. He made his final vows on Aug. 16, 1959 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1961 at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame.

 

After his ordination he spent one year at Notre Dame in pastoral apprenticeship and then taught from 1962 to 1968 at Holy Cross College in Washington DC, where he was also an assistant superior. From 1968 to 1970 he taught homiletics at Notre Dame while assistant at Fatima Retreat Center. Since 1970 he has served as Director of Campus Ministry at Notre Dame. He also wrote several books.

 

Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. Father Hesburgh, president of the university will officiate, and burial will be in the Community Cemetery on the campus. Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Sacred Heart Church, where a wake service will be at 7:30 p.m.