Presidents of the College of the Holy Cross:
Rev. John A. O'Brien, S.J.
Twenty-sixth President of Holy Cross
John A. O'Brien was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts on May 22, 1897. He attended Cathedral High School, Springfield, MA. He entered Holy Cross College in 1914. Graduating in 1918 he entered the Society of Jesus in Yonkers, NY. After classical and philosophical studies at Woodstock College, MD, he taught English Literature at Holy Cross from 1924 to 1927. He made his theological studies at Weston College, Weston, MA where he was ordained a priest in 1930.
From 1933 to 1948 he taught Humanities and Philosophy at Boston College. In 1948 he was appointed President of Holy Cross. During his presidency he built the O'Neil Biology Building and two dormitories, Lehy and Hanselman Halls. He also introduced the Air Force R.O.T.C. in 1951.
Leaving Holy Cross in 1954, he taught Philosophy at Fairfield University and subsequently at Boston College until his sudden death on November 21, 1963.