Jesuit Journeys
Spring 2007

In Memoriam

Oscar L. Benzinger, SJ

A man who treasured friendships, Fr. Oscar Benzinger, 76, died Nov. 3, 2006. He had fallen on a visit to Milwaukee and spent his final weeks at the Jesuit Community of St. Camillus in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Born on a farm near Mishicot, Wis. on June 5, 1930 “Ben” enlisted in the military after graduation from Mishicot High School and served in the 528th Engineering Utility Detachment in Okinawa.

After discharge in 1952, Ben felt a call to priesthood and entered the Jesuit novitiate at Oshkosh, Wis. in 1954. A math teacher at Campion Jesuit High School (1960-62) he completed an M.S. in mathematics at Marquette in 1964, was ordained in 1967, and was assigned to Marquette University High School (1968-92).

Ben received training in spiritual direction and moved to Aberdeen, S. D. where he served as chaplain to the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 2005 he joined the staff at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh.

Charles L. Kerr, SJ

A four-decade associate pastor at SS Peter & Paul Parish, Mankato, Minn. Fr. Charles L. Kerr died Dec. 2, 2006 of congestive heart failure at the Jesuit Community at St. Camillus, Wauwatosa. He was 87.

Born June 13, 1919, in Pittsburgh, Charlie entered the Society of Jesus at Florissant, Mo. immediately after graduating from Marquette High in Milwaukee in 1937. He taught at St. Francis Mission (1944-47), St. Stephen’s Mission (1953-54) and Creighton Prep (1954-55). After ordination in 1950 he found his niche in parish work at St. Benedict’s in Omaha (1955-60) and at SS Peter & Paul in Mankato, Minn. (1960-2003).

At SS Peter & Paul his ministry included teaching religion in the lower grades and serving as spiritual director to the Catholic fraternal organizations.

In 2003 Charlie moved to St. Camillus.

William R. Duffey, SJ

The son of the founder of Marquette University’s Department of Speech, Fr. William R. Duffey died Dec. 15, 2006 at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex. He was 85.

Born in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 10, 1921, Bill’s family migrated to Milwaukee where Bill graduated from Marquette High in 1938. He entered the Society of Jesus at Florissant, completed his collegiate studies at Saint Louis University in 1947, and, capitalizing on his father’s example, taught speech at his alma mater in the 1945-46 and 1947-48 school years. He was ordained in 1951.

Following a post-ordination year in Belize, Bill held a series of assignments while living at Marquette High (1954-75).

For a brief time Bill offered his services to the Diocese of
Gallup, New Mexico (1976-78) but returned to Marquette High
and retired from ministry for personal and health reasons. He
moved into the Milwaukee County facility in 1994.

Benno G. Kornely, SJ

Fr. Benno G. Kornely, known for his sensitivity and empathy, died of cancer Nov. 17 at Colombiere Health Care Center in Clarkson, Mich. He was 78.

Benno was born in Milwaukee, Dec.11, 1928 and grew up in St. Francis of Assisi Parish. After graduating from Marquette High in 1946, he entered the Society of Jesus at Florissant, Mo. After finishing studies in Philosophy at St. Louis University, Benno taught math for three years at Campion High School.

Benno worked 10 years as director of guidance, assistant principal at St. Francis Indian Mission in South Dakota.

From 1975 until 1981 he helped establish the directed retreat program at the Jesuit Retreat House at Oshkosh, Wis. and in 1982 moved to the Jesuit Retreat House in Cleveland and worked with the spirituality team at Colombiere College.

When Colombiere closed in 1993, Benno continued his spiritual direction and retreat work at the Emmaus Center in Des Moines Iowa for two years before joining the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Maurice B. McNamee, SJ

A professor emeritus of English and art history at Saint Louis University, Fr. Maurice B. McNamee, 97, died of pneumonia, on Jan. 28, 2007 at Saint Louis University Hospital.

Born in Montello, Wis. on June 5, 1909 Maurice graduated from the minor seminary located at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee and entered the Jesuits in 1927. Prior to ordination he taught English at Creighton Prep (1936-37).

“Father Mac” as many later called him was ordained in 1940 and obtained a PhD in English from Saint Louis in 1945.

His real love was art and art history. He was the first to introduce an art course at a Jesuit institution and his scholarly work in Flemish art received recognition in an honorary PhD awarded in 2006.

In St. Louis he is best known for saving a Victorian mansion, the Samuel Cupples House, from demolition and turning it into a museum and art gallery.

William F. Pauly, SJ

Fr. William Pauly, a man whose smile, warmth and ready laughter endeared him to all, died of an unexpected heart attack while on sabbatical in Chicago, on Nov. 29, 2006. He was 59.

Born in Sheboygan, Wis. on May 1, 1947 Bill graduated from St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary, Wis. and entered the Society of Jesus at St. Bonifacius in 1965. He taught at Creighton Prep (1972-75) and did a year of chaplain training at Mendota State Hospital in Madison, Wis.

Following studies in Toronto, and ordination in 1979, Bill worked briefly in campus ministry at Marquette University (1979-82). The next six years he studied Spanish and was a pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Milwaukee.

From 1989 onward Bill worked at Holy Rosary Mission in South Dakota, ministering to the Oglala Sioux on the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Hispanics in the Black Hills area. Bill’s favorite poet Mary Oliver asks in “A Summer’s Day,” “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Bill commingled his life with the lives of those he met.

Norbert J. Tracy, SJ

The first academic dean of Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea, Fr. Norbert J. Tracy, 82, died at St. Camillus in Wauwatosa, Wis. on Jan. 21, 2007.

Born in Chicago, May 18, 1924, Norb grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University High School in 1942. He entered the Society of Jesus and received a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Minnesota in 1961.

After teaching three years at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan (1949-52) and after ordination in 1955, he was sent to Seoul to the newly established college. He served the institution as academic dean (1961-1977), as planning director (1977-81), and as founder and director of several institutes (1981-96) that are still in operation today.

In 1996 Norb returned to the U.S. and died peacefully in his room at St. Camillus.