Father George Curran was 82 years old when he died March
25, 2001 at the Colombiere Jesuit Community Center at Clarkston,
Mich. He was a priest for 50 years and a dedicated educator.
Before joining the Colombiere Community, George spent 32 years
teaching at Xavier University, beginning as an instructor in
ethics and eventually becoming a professor of philosophy. Colleagues
described him as a humble scholar with a keen intellect and two
doctorate degrees.A native of Chicago, George graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in 1936. While serving part time as a congressional clerk, he studied at Georgetown University for two years before entering the Jesuit novitiate at Milford, Ohio in 1938. Following two years' novitiate, George continued his undergraduate studies at Loyola University where he received an A.B. degree in 1943 and an M.A. degree in philosophy in 1947. In 1949, he received a Ph.D. in political science from Fordham University in New York. After studies in philosophy and theology at the Jesuit's West Baden College in West Baden, IN, George was ordained in 1951. He then earned a Ph.D. in philosophy at Gregorian University in Rome. A hearing loss forced George to leave teaching but colleagues said he graciously filled in as needed to do pastoral work in the Lexington area. Father Lou Lipps, who served in Kentucky with George, said, "The people loved him dearly and loved his homilies because he was able to weave in so much church history. That made him a very interesting speaker." George spent his final years at the Colombiere Health Care Center where visitors recalled that he was a quiet man with a gentle Irish wit. When asked to reflect on his 50 years as a priest, George responded, "I have always been amazed that I was permitted to join the ranks of such a happy and distinguished group of men." |
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This obituary was written by the
Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus. |