Issue Home > In Memoriam > Rev. William J. O’Halloran, S.J.

Rev. William J. O’Halloran, S.J.

Feb. 26, 2008

Rev. William J. O’Halloran, S.J., the first chairman of the psychology department at Holy Cross and a longtime administrator at the College, died Feb. 26, 2008, at the Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass., at 80.

Most recently holding the post of special assistant to Holy Cross president, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., Fr. O’Halloran had joined the College faculty as an assistant professor in 1963; appointed department chairman in 1964, he served as associate professor from 1968-75. Fr. O’Halloran had earned his Ph.D. in psychology at Fordham University in New York City.

In addition to his teaching and administrative duties at the College, he had been the rector of the Jesuit Community at Holy Cross for six years. Also, Fr. O’Halloran had been a visiting professor and research fellow, for several summers, in the psychology department at the University of Michigan—taking part as well in the Catholic charismatic movement centered around “The Word of God” community in Ann Arbor; in the summer of 1975, he had been a University of Michigan visiting research fellow at the Office of Naval Research in Pensacola, Fla.

Appointed the sixth president of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1976, Fr. O’Halloran served in this capacity until June 1981, when he returned to Holy Cross to assume the position of director of relations with corporations and foundations. He was named vice president of the College in 1984 and, special assistant to the president, in 1998.

Fr. O’Halloran’s contribution to Jesuit education also included serving as a member of the board of trustees of several institutions of higher learning: Holy Cross; Boston College; Spring Hill College; Xavier University; and Wheeling College—as well as Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine.

Involved during his ministry in many civic, community and educational organizations, he had been a member of the board of Unity Mutual Life Insurance in Syracuse, N.Y.; chairman of the educational division of the United Way of Central New York; a member of the Advisory Committee of the New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education; and a trustee of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York. Managing editor of the Catholic Psychological Record, Fr. O’Halloran had also been a member of the Worcester Mental Health Planning Committee.

His professional affiliations included membership in the Rhode Island Honor Society; Eastern Psychological Association; Academy of Religion and Health; Sigma Xi; the American Psychological Association; and the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society; in addition, he had been a fellow of the Massachusetts Psychological Association.

A Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, Fr. O’Halloran had been a Knight of Columbus and moderator of the Worcester diocesan First Friday Club, from 2001-08.

A graduate of LaSalle Academy in Providence, R.I., he entered the Society of Jesus at Shadowbrook in Lenox, Mass., on Sept. 7, 1945. Completing undergraduate studies at Weston (Mass.) College, Fr. O’Halloran earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1951 and master of arts degree in philosophy, in 1952, at Boston College; he then taught Latin, English and religion for two years at Boston College High School in Dorchester, Mass. After receiving his master’s degree in psychology the following year at Fordham University in New York City, Fr. O’Halloran pursued theological studies, from 1955-59, in Enghien, Belgium, and, then, in Chantilly (Oise), France. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 30, 1958, in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Senlis, France.

Fr. O’Halloran is survived by two nephews, F. Thomas III and his wife, Andrea, and Vincent M.; two nieces, Martha McCorry and Susan M., wife of Andreas Constable; grandnephews; and grandnieces.

Following is an excerpt from the homily of Holy Cross president, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., at the funeral Mass of Fr. O’Halloran, celebrated March 4, in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel:

“Bill O’Halloran’s immense compassion was felt by everyone who was lucky enough to know him. That has been so evident in the remembrances we have heard in the last few days. He cared about everyone, the humble and needy most of all. It came across in his unfailing kindness and attentiveness, the warmth and joy he brought to every encounter. He was always there for the sick and those in mourning, the lonely and the lost, with a sympathetic ear, a word of consolation and whatever help he could give.”

To view the full text of Fr. McFarland’s homily, please visit the online tribute to Fr. O’Halloran.