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AJCU Mourns Passing of Former Wheeling Jesuit University President Rev. Joseph Hacala, S.J.

The former president of Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU), Rev. Joseph Hacala, S.J., 61, has died.

Fr. Hacala, who passed away on February 19, 2007, retired from his post as WJU President this past September for health problems associated with a rare organ protein disease known as amyloidosis.  He died from complications related to the disease.

"As his illness progressed, Father Hacala accepted his condition with great faith, always being more concerned about the well-being of others, with little focus on his own grave condition," said James F. Birge, Ph.D., interim president of Wheeling Jesuit University.  "He had an extraordinary concern and commitment for the well-being of the people of his beloved and native state of West Virginia."

Prior to serving as president of WJU from 2003-2006, Fr. Hacala was was rector of the Jesuit community at WJU from 2001-03.   Before that time, he worked for the Department of Housing and Urban Development as special assistant to Secretary Andrew Cuomo, served as executive director for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and led the National Office of Jesuit Social Ministries at the National Jesuit Conference in Washington, DC.

"Father Joe Hacala's life was a lesson in service," said the Most Rev. Michael Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. "He stridently supported those who worked for the less fortunate as a priest, in his role as the president of Wheeling Jesuit University, and as a leader in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He taught everywhere he went, from student groups to government, with simplicity and gratitude."

Born on Feb. 28, 1945, in Charleston, WV, Fr. Hacala entered the Society of Jesus on July 30, 1962, and was ordained a priest on June 7, 1975.  He received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Loyola University, Chicago, a master's degree in social work from the University of Illinois, and a master's degree in divinity from Regis College in Toronto, Canada.

"Fr. Joe Hacala was an exceptional Jesuit and leader who took his commitment to social justice and furthering the common good very seriously," said Fr. Charles Currie, S.J., president of AJCU.  "The presidents of the Jesuit colleges and universities were very grateful for his contributions to promoting the ideals of Jesuit higher education, and we will miss him as a colleague and friend."