William L. Reilly
Encyclopedia
William L. Reilly, S.J.
, (May 16, 1916 – December 10, 2009) was an American Jesuit and academic. Reilly holds the distinction of being the longest serving president of Le Moyne College
in the school's history. His twelve year term as Le Moyne's president lasted from 1964 until 1976. The college is located in Syracuse, New York
.
, in 1916. He first enrolled in the Jesuit novitiate
in 1932, and was formally ordained a Catholic priest within the Society of Jesus
in 1945. Reilly received a bachelor's degree
in philosophy
from the former Woodstock College
in Maryland
. Additionally, he studied theology
at Weston College
in Massachusetts
before obtaining a doctorate
in philosophy
from Fordham University
.
in Buffalo, New York
. He also became director of Canisius' evening and summer programs. Reilly remained on faculty at Canisius College until 1964, when he left to become the president of Le Moyne College
.
to more than 140 acres. Several academic buildings were constructed during this time, including Foery and Harrison halls. Harrison Hall was later renamed Reilly Hall in his honor.
in New York City
. Between 1991 and 1998, Reilly served as the retreat minister at both the Jesuit Novitiate
in Benin City
, Nigeria
, as well the retreat minister at a Jesuit facility in Cape Coast, Ghana. He began serving as retreat minister at the Nigerian novitiate at the age of 75.
Father Reilly permanently moved to the campus of Fordham University
in the Bronx in 1999, where he resided for the remainder of his life. Reilly died at the Murray-Weigel Hall Jesuit care facility at Fordham University on December 10, 2009, at the age of 94.
Reilly's funeral mass took place at the Fordham University Church. He was buried at the Jesuit Martyrs' Shrine in Auriesville, New York
.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, (May 16, 1916 – December 10, 2009) was an American Jesuit and academic. Reilly holds the distinction of being the longest serving president of Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College, named after Simon Le Moyne, is a private, Jesuit college enrolling over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1946, Le Moyne is the first Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution...
in the school's history. His twelve year term as Le Moyne's president lasted from 1964 until 1976. The college is located in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Early life
Reilly was born in Jersey City, New JerseyJersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, in 1916. He first enrolled in the Jesuit novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in 1932, and was formally ordained a Catholic priest within the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1945. Reilly received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the former Woodstock College
Woodstock College
Woodstock College was a Jesuit seminary that existed from 1869 to 1974. It was the oldest Jesuit seminary in the United States. The school was located in Woodstock, Maryland, west of Baltimore, from its establishment until 1969, when it moved to New York City, where it operated in cooperation with...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Additionally, he studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Weston College
Weston College
Weston College is a further education college situated in Weston-super-Mare, England. The college has 7,500 students who are taught at facilities in Weston-super-Mare and Nailsea...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
before obtaining a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
.
Canisius College
In 1955, Reilly became a philosophy professor at Canisius CollegeCanisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He also became director of Canisius' evening and summer programs. Reilly remained on faculty at Canisius College until 1964, when he left to become the president of Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College, named after Simon Le Moyne, is a private, Jesuit college enrolling over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1946, Le Moyne is the first Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution...
.
President of Le Moyne College
Reilly became president of Le Moyne College in 1964, succeeding Nicholas J. Sullivan. During his 12-year tenure as president, the longest in Le Moyne's history, Reilly oversaw the expansion of Le Moyne's campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
to more than 140 acres. Several academic buildings were constructed during this time, including Foery and Harrison halls. Harrison Hall was later renamed Reilly Hall in his honor.
Later life
Reilly retired as president of Le Moyne College in 1976 and served at a number of other Jesuit institutions. He became the associate vice president for academy at Fordham UniversityFordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Between 1991 and 1998, Reilly served as the retreat minister at both the Jesuit Novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in Benin City
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, as well the retreat minister at a Jesuit facility in Cape Coast, Ghana. He began serving as retreat minister at the Nigerian novitiate at the age of 75.
Father Reilly permanently moved to the campus of Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in the Bronx in 1999, where he resided for the remainder of his life. Reilly died at the Murray-Weigel Hall Jesuit care facility at Fordham University on December 10, 2009, at the age of 94.
Reilly's funeral mass took place at the Fordham University Church. He was buried at the Jesuit Martyrs' Shrine in Auriesville, New York
Auriesville, New York
Auriesville is a hamlet in the northeastern part of the town of Glen in Montgomery County, New York, United States, along the south bank of the Mohawk River. It lies about forty miles west of Albany, the state capital. A Jesuit cemetery is located there....
.