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Rev. James N. Loughran, S.J. (1940-2006), President of Saint Peter's College, Dies

December 24, 2006 -The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) mourns the passing of Rev. James N. Loughran, S.J., the 21st president of Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, NJ, who served the College for the past 11 years.

"Fr. Jim Loughran brought energy, compassion and intelligence to his role as president of Saint Peter's," said AJCU President Fr. Charles Currie.  "The Jesuit college and university presidents will miss him as a friend and colleague and will remember his strong commitment to making Jesuit education accessible to all students.  May he rest in peace."

Fr. Loughran was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 22, 1940.  He graduated from Brooklyn Prep in 1957 and entered the Society of Jesus in July of 1958.  Fr. Loughran attended the College of the Holy Cross and graduated from Fordham University, earning a Bachelor's degree in History, summa cum laude, in 1964.  He also earned a Master's degree and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Fordham and studied Theology in France and at Woodstock College in New York.  He was ordained on June 11, 1970 and took his final vows on December 8, 1978.

In addition to serving in a variety of teaching and administrative posts in his career, Fr. Loughran served as President at four colleges:  Saint Peter's College since 1995; Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California from 1984-1991; Acting President of Brooklyn College in 1992 and Interim President of Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmittsburg, Maryland from 1993-1994.

Fr. Loughran was an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Fordham from 1974-1984 and held the Edmund Miller, S.J., Philosophy Professorship at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio from 1992-1993.  Prior to returning to Saint Peter's as President, Father Loughran was Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Interim Dean of the Arts and Sciences faculty at Fordham.  He authored many articles for various publications.

"Throughout his life, Fr. Loughran put into practice the words of Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, to serve as a man for others," said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.  "He welcomed the opportunity to return to Saint Peter's as its President more than 10 years ago after serving as a Philosophy teacher here in the 1960s.  Fr. Loughran led our institution with grace, dignity and a profound enthusiasm for all associated with Saint Peter's."