In Memoriam

Kelly, Robert J. SJ

posted by: tricia on Monday, September 08, 2008

Fr. Robert J. Kelly, S.J., died Aug, 16, 2007 in Wauwatosa, Wis. He was 87 years old.

Fr. Bob Kelly was born in Valle City, N.D. on April 7, 1921.  He attended St. Patrick’s Grade School in Billings, Mont. and for one year Billings High School, but graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minn.  Bob studied one year at St. Thomas College in St. Paul, MN and on August 8, 1939 he entered the Jesuit novitiate at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, MO, where he pronounced his first vows on August 15, 1941.

After two years of humanities studies in the same place, he moved to St. Louis, MO and obtained the A.B. degree in English literature and the Ph.L. degree from St. Louis University. During that time he was editor of The Modern Schoolman.  Bob did regency at Creighton Prep Jesuit High School in Omaha, NE, teaching English and assisting with drama activities.  In 1949 he began theology studies at St. Marys College in St. Marys, KS, working also as editor of Theological Studies and obtaining the S.T.B. and S.T.L. degrees from St. Louis University.  He was ordained on June 19, 1952 and did tertianship at St. Joseph Hall in Decatur, IL in 1953-1954 under the direction of Fr. Hugo J. Gerleman, S.J.  From 1954 to 1957 he studied moral theology at the Gregorian University in Rome and then moved back to St. Marys College as professor of moral and pastoral theology, pronouncing his final vows there on August 15, 1956.  In 1961 Bob obtained a certificate in theology and psychiatric theory from the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, KS.

In 1963 he was missioned to Korea and, after language study, he taught at Sogang University in Seoul.  He was also director of education for Jesuit students and in 1973-1974 director of Malssumui Jip retreat house in Suwon.  Bob spent a sabbatical year as post-doctoral fellow at the University of Chicago and from 1977 to 1981 he was professor of moral theology and director of pastoral training at Notre Dame Diocesan Seminary in New Orleans, LA.  He returned to Sogang University as professor of moral theology and was transcribed to the Korean Region on February 24, 1986.  After 1986 he served first as secretary and then as archivist of the Korean Region of the Society of Jesus.
 
Due to failing health, in 2005 Bob moved to the St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, WI, where he died.