James E. Hoff, SJ

A man of great energy, spirit, and vision, Fr. James E. Hoff, died July 23 after a battle with cancer. He was 72.

Born June 23, 1932 in Milwaukee, Jim graduated from Marquette High in 1950. After three years in pre-med, he entered the Society of Jesus, studied biology, and taught chemistry at Creighton Prep (1959- 62). Ordained in 1965, he later became novice master and guided the restructuring of the novitiate program from a rural to an urban setting (1970-75).

Still interested in medicine, he spent a year at Massachusetts General Hospital studying medical ethics and served as acting dean of Creighton University’s School of Medicine (1981-83).

As Creighton’s vice president of University Relations (1983-90), Jim oversaw a $102.5 million capital campaign. He became president at Xavier University in Cincinnati in 1991 and chancellor in 2001. He is credited with leading a renaissance in spirit and resources that set a new standard of excellence there.

“I think he would have made a great doctor, but he made a better priest,” said Jerry Lathers, a physician and longtime friend.

Robert F. McEniry, SJ

A gifted counselor and therapist, Fr. Robert F. McEniry died of natural causes on July 7 at Life Care Center of Omaha. He was 86.

Born, Feb. 22, 1918, in Milwaukee, Bob graduated from Marquette High in 1936 and attended Notre Dame University before entering the Society of Jesus at Florissant.

Bob first discovered counseling through classroom teaching. He taught classical languages at Saint Louis University High School (1944-47), at Creighton Prep (1947- 48), and, after ordination in 1951, at Rockhurst College (1953-58). At the White House Retreat Center in St. Louis (1959-67), he was a popular retreat master and confessor.

Counseling so fascinated him that, at age 54, he earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Ohio State University. His dissertation focused on the work of Rollo May.

In 1972 Bob was assigned to Creighton University where he networked with practitioners around the country through the Psychiatric Institutes of America and its network of psychiatric hospitals. He traveled extensively, giving lectures and workshops.

He retired from active ministry in 1989 for personal and health reasons.

William A. Van Roo, SJ

Fr. William A. Van Roo died March 30 at the St. Camillus Health Care Facility in Wauwatosa, Wis. after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 89.

Born March 10, 1915 in Milwaukee, Bill attended local schools before entering the Society of Jesus in August 1934. He taught at Saint Louis University High School (1932-34) and after ordination in 1947 studied at the Gregorian University in Rome.

As luck would have it, the “Greg” was experiencing a time of rapid expansion in 1951 and hired its new graduate to teach sacramental theology. Bill taught for 26 years and directed a lion’s share of dissertations. From 1958-68 he edited The Gregorianum, and from 1977-87 published a series of books in which he explored and shared his own thoughts about God.

In 1987 Bill retired from the faculty and returned to Milwaukee, living first at Marquette University and then at St. Camillus. Before Parkinson’s hampered his movement, he used to visit the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Conn., offering the sisters retreats and spiritual direction.