Michael Kennelly
The Reverend Michael F. Kennelly SJ | |
|---|---|
| 13th President of the Loyola University New Orleans | |
| In office 1970–1974 | |
| Preceded by | Homer R. Jolley, S.J. |
| Succeeded by | James C. Carter, S.J. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1914 academic administrator |
Michael F. Kennelly,
Kennelly served as the 13th president of
Biography
Early life
Kennelly was born on May 22, 1914,[4] in Kilbaha, Moyvane, County Kerry, Ireland,[1] to parents, Timothy and Mary Jane Kennelly, who resided in County Kerry.[2] He had five brothers and four sisters.[2] In 1929, his uncle invited him to attend high school in New York City.[1] A second uncle, Rev. Patrick Ryan, further encouraged Kennelly to move to Mobile, Alabama, where he attended Spring Hill College, which had a high school on its campus at the time.[1]
Kennelly entered the
Kennelly spent much of the 1940s as a postgraduate student while also working as a teacher and administrator at several
Jesuit High School in Tampa
Kennelly returned to Jesuit High School in Tampa, where he served as the school's president and rector from 1953 to 1959.[2] Kennelly spearheaded a $600,000 capital campaign to purchase 80 acres of rural farmland from a dairy rancher during his tenure as principal.[3] The land acquisition allowed Jesuit High School to move from its former downtown Tampa location to the current campus, which is located on North Himes Avenue.[3]
The
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Kennelly founded Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, Texas.[1][2] He served as the school's president and rector from 1959 until 1970,[1][2] when he departed to become president of Loyola University New Orleans.
President of Loyola University New Orleans (1970–1974)
Kennelly served as the 13th President of Loyola University New Orleans.[1] The new home of the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law was constructed during Kennelly's tenure in office.[1] Kennelly also established the President's Council, which consisted of a group of business executives who contributed their professional experience to the university.[1] Kennelly was a fervent opponent of recreational drugs on campus, telling the Times-Picayune in a 1974 interview that, "I've done everything in my power to wipe them from the campus, and I think I've been successful."[1]
Kennelly stepped down as President of the university in 1974 at the age of 59, saying it was time for a younger leader, according to
Florida
Father Kennelly became the
Kennelly returned to Tampa in 1980, where he would live and work for twenty-two years.
Kennelly returned once again to Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida, serving as its rector and vice president from 1990 until 1997.[1][2] He then returned to Sacred Heart Church in Tampa, as the pastor emeritus and Jesuit provincial vicar from 1997 until 2002.[2]
Later life
Kennelly moved to Ignatius Residence, a Jesuit retirement community located in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, in 2003.[1]
Father Michael Kennelly died at the Ignatius Residence in Algiers, New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 3, 2011, at the age of 96.[1] He was the oldest Jesuit priest in the Society of Jesus' New Orleans province at the time of his death.[4] Kennelly was survived by his sister, Mary Jane Coulon, and brother, Timothy Kennelly.[1] A funeral mass was said on January 7, 2011, at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans.[1] Kennelly was buried at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.[1]
References
- ^ The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Past president of Loyola dies at age 96". Loyola University New Orleans. 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Tampa Tribune. Archived from the originalon 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the originalon 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Tampa Tribune. Archived from the originalon 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-17.