Presidents of the College of the Holy Cross:
Rev. William A. Donaghy, S.J.
Twenty-seventh President of Holy Cross
1954 - 1960
William A. Donaghy was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on November 13, 1909. After primary education in New Bedford parochial schools, he entered Holy Cross College in 1927. Two years later he left to enter the Society of Jesus at Shadowbrook, Lenox, Massachusetts.
He made ascetical and classical studies at Shadowbrook (1929-1933); philosophical studies at Weston College (1933-1936); and graduate studies at St. Louis University (1936-1937). Returning to Weston College for Theology he was ordained a priest in 1941.
Rev. Donaghy's early career was in retreat work (1944-1946) and as spiritual counselor to theological students at Weston College (1946-1948). He was appointed in 1948 Superior of the retreat house, Campion Hall, North Andover, Massachusetts and served there until his appointment in 1954 to the Presidency of Holy Cross.
As President he built the science building called Haberlin Hall, the Mary Chapel in St. Joseph's Chapel and an addition to Fenwick Hall.
Leaving Holy Cross in 1960, he devoted himself to retreat work until 1969 when he returned to Holy Cross as Professor of English Literature. He died in the College Infirmary on January 24, 1975 and is buried in the Holy Cross Jesuit Cemetery.