Presidents of the College of the Holy Cross:
Rev. William J. Healy, S.J.
Twenty-fifth President of Holy Cross
1945 - 1948
William J.Healy was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, on July 22, 1907. His early education was in parochial schools and Boston College High School. After graduation in 1925 he entered the Society of Jesus at Shadowbrook, Lenox, Massachusetts.
He studied Philosophy and Theology at Weston College from 1929 to 1936 and was ordained a priest on July 23, 1935.
After six years as professor of English Literature at Shadowbrook, he was appointed President of Holy Cross in 1945 and served in that office until 1948. Under his supervision the Fieldhouse was erected.
His subsequent career brought him in 1950 to Sophia University, Japan as Dean of Studies and then returning to the United States in 1953, he was Dean of Studies at Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut. He returned to Holy Cross as Professor of English in 1962 until his retirement in 1977. After retirement, Rev. Healy served as College Chaplain at Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, Massachusetts and at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts.
Death came suddenly on July 6, 1982 while assisting at the Church of Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket Island. He lies at rest in the College Cemetery.