A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J., 24th president and first chancellor of Boston College, at St. Ignatius Church on March 22, 2017. Fr. Monan died on March 18 at age 92. (Photographs by Gary Wayne Gilbert)
He was, according to one eulogist, a Renaissance man: a man of faith; an academic of high intellect; a leader who gathered talent and resources to achieve ambitious goals; and an intense competitor and inveterate sports fan who liked to lace up his skates for a turn on the Conte Forum ice.
But J. Donald Monan, S.J. 鈥 Boston College鈥檚 longest-serving president 鈥 also was known for paying attention to the small things that made a difference in people鈥檚 lives, like a promise made to a young boy at a hockey game.
Family members, colleagues and friends packed St. Ignatius Church for a Mass of Christian Burial on March 22 to remember the life and legacy of Fr. Monan, .
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Fr. Monan, who was president from 1972-96 and then served as BC鈥檚 first chancellor, was credited with saving the University from fiscal crisis and guiding it into a period of then unparalleled financial and academic success. He also was an important figure outside of the University, through his activity on a number of educational and social issues as well as his involvement in various local and state initiatives.
鈥淓agles fly far, far away, but many are here with us now,鈥 said BC Jesuit Community Rector Robert L. Keane, S.J., principal celebrant of the Mass, welcoming the many alumni as well as former faculty, administrators and staff to St. Ignatius 鈥 and those watching a livestream of the funeral. 鈥淲hile we hate to say goodbye, this is a day to rejoice, because Fr. Monan is where he hoped to be, entering the kingdom of God as the faithful servant he always was.鈥
In his homily, former Lynch School of Education Dean Joseph O鈥橩eefe, S.J. 鈥 now rector for the Ciszek Hall Jesuit Community of New York City 鈥 said the grief felt in the University community over the loss of Fr. Monan and his 鈥渆xemplary leadership鈥 would give way to gratitude 鈥渇or having known him [and] for his scholarship, graciousness, wisdom, dedication to public service and faithfulness.鈥
鈥淔r. Monan鈥檚 parting words for us,鈥 said Fr. O'Keefe, "were to ask us to preach the Gospel for which he pledged his life, and to urge each of us to fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith.鈥
Fr. O鈥橩eefe praised Fr. Monan as a 鈥渟killed, masterful teacher鈥 who, while an accomplished scholar in ancient philosophy 鈥 among his publications was Moral Knowledge and its Methodology in Aristotle 鈥 also took an interest in more recent perspectives, such as those of Gabriel Marcel. Along with his intellect, added Fr. O鈥橩eefe, Fr. Monan possessed qualities of caring and compassion shared not only with students but administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and especially his fellow Jesuits.
鈥淒on Monan was truly alive, and he showered this taste for life on those lucky enough to be around him. He was living proof that that the humanities can indeed humanize,鈥 said Fr. O鈥橩eefe. 鈥淣o matter where you stood in life, from the highest halls of power to humblest state in life, Don would treat you with warmth and respect.鈥
A video of the funeral Mass for Fr. Monan, held on March 22 at St. Ignatius Church.
Also officiating at the funeral were University President William P. Leahy, S.J., and John Hanwell, S.J., assistant to the provincial for the Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus.
In his eulogy, Trustee Associate and longtime BC benefactor Geoffrey Boisi 鈥69 underscored Fr. Monan鈥檚 attention to others. He recalled how Fr. Monan had escorted a nine-year-old hockey fan to the BC men鈥檚 hockey team dressing room after BC had lost the 2006 National Championship game, telling him that someday he could play as a member of the Eagles. When the boy asked if he was being offered a scholarship, Fr. Monan told him that if he worked and studied hard, 鈥淚鈥檒l be there for you.鈥
That boy, Boisi said, is now BC hockey鈥檚 star forward, Colin White 鈥19.
Along with the dedication he showed to Boston College, Fr. Monan 鈥渂rought the best of the priesthood to the public forum,鈥 Fr. O鈥橩eefe said, 鈥渃rossing seemingly unbridgeable differences鈥: chairing a committee to improve the Massachusetts judiciary, for example, or helping muster support for the construction of the Fleet Center (now TD Garden) and to keep the New England Patriots in Foxborough. One of his finest moments, Fr. O鈥橩eefe noted, was his call for justice for the victims 鈥 including six Jesuits 颅鈥 of the 1989 massacre at El Salvador鈥檚 University of Central America.
鈥淔r. Monan鈥檚 parting words for us,鈥 he said, 鈥渨ere to ask us to preach the Gospel for which he pledged his life, and to urge each of us to fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith.鈥
Fr. Monan鈥檚 grandnephew, Anthony Bellia Jr., offered some insights on 鈥淯ncle Don鈥檚鈥 devotion to family members: performing their marriages, welcoming their children, and offering them prayer and comfort in times of loss and sadness.
鈥淗e moved us to be better people, better servants to God,鈥 said Bellia, adding that he and his younger relatives 鈥渓oved the gentle spirit of this man, even before we knew he was a priest.鈥
In his final days, his granduncle continued to give advice and counsel 鈥渁s sound, measured and spot-on as any he鈥檇 ever given me,鈥 said Bellia.
Fr. Monan, Bellia said, had shown the same dedication to his 鈥渟piritual family,鈥 the Jesuits, and 鈥渢he family God gave him at BC鈥 鈥 a legacy of words and deeds he said will live on through the University and anyone whose life had been touched in some way by his granduncle.
鈥淎s long as there is us, all of us,鈥 said Bellia, 鈥渢here will always be Fr. Monan.鈥
Fr. Leahy thanked the Monan family 鈥渇or sharing him with us all these years.鈥 To those who had paid their respects to Fr. Monan, 鈥測our presence and your prayers have been consoling鈥 to the University community, including Fr. Monan鈥檚 fellow Jesuits. Fr. Leahy also expressed gratitude to those at all levels of the University who, over the years, had endeavored to make Fr. Monan鈥檚 vision for BC a reality.
鈥淭hank you,鈥 he said, 鈥渇or all the ways you assisted Fr. Monan.鈥
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鈥擲ean Smith | University Communications
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Read tributes to Fr. Monan from the Boston College community and other friends, from Chestnut Hill and around the world, in this social media Storify.