Aloysius C. Galvin
Encyclopedia
Aloysius Carroll Galvin, S.J.
, (January 15, 1925 – November 23, 2007) was an American
Jesuit priest
, administrator and teacher
. He served as academic dean
at Loyola College
in Baltimore
from 1959-1965. He was selected as the 17th president of the University of Scranton
, which he led from 1965 until 1970. Galvin spent much of the rest of his career teaching mathematics
at Georgetown Prep from 1970 until 2007. Nicknamed "Wish" by his family, friends and students, he was frequently voted a favorite teacher.
Galvin attended Blessed Sacrament Parochial School in Baltimore for elementary school
. He went on to graduate from Loyola High School
in 1942. Galvin began attending Loyola College
but dropped out in 1943 to join the United States Navy
's V-12 College Training Program
during World War II
. It was held at Mount Saint Mary's College
in Emmitsburg, Maryland
.
Galvin was officially commissioned as a naval ensign
at Columbia University
in 1944. He served as an executive officer on board a submarine chaser
in both the Atlantic
and the Pacific Ocean
s during the war. He spent much of his time assigned to the Aleutian Islands. Following the end of the war, Galvin re-enrolled in Loyola College in 1946. He earned a bachelor's degree
in 1948.
An avid athlete during his years in college, Galvin took up boxing
and enjoyed playing basketball
while in the Navy. The Washington Post referred to him as a "basketball standout" during his time as a student at Loyola College.
, a Roman Catholic religious order
commonly known as the Jesuits, in August 1948. He was formally ordained as a Jesuit priest on June 23, 1957, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church on Calvert Street
in Baltimore.
Galvin began his academic career when he became a high school Latin
and English
teacher at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia for one year. He left St. Joe's Prep in 1959 when he was appointed an academic dean at Loyola College
. He served as dean from 1959 to 1965. He departed to become president of the University of Scranton.
Galvin was officially inaugurated as the 17th President of the University of Scranton
on September 24, 1965. He is credited with changing the way that the University was governed and making it more open and inclusive for both faculty and students. He served as president of the University until 1970.
He took a teaching position at Georgetown Preparatory School
, a Jesuit high school
in North Bethesda, Maryland
. Three days after his arrival, he suffered a massive heart attack. He spent much of 1970 and 1971 recovering and living in the school's infirmary.
Galvin returned to teaching high school math at Georgetown Prep in 1971. He continued as a teacher for much of the next four decades. He also served as the school's chaplain
for the American football
team. He was frequently voted as a favorite teacher by students and alumni.
Galvin taught at Georgetown Prep until the 2006-2007 school year when his health began to rapidly decline due to cancer.
in the Jesuit community of Georgetown Preparatory School on November 23, 2007, at the age of 82. His funeral was held at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
at Georgetown Prep on November 26; he was buried at the Woodstock Seminary cemetery in Woodstock, Maryland
on November 27.
Galvin was survived by his brother John Galvin III and sister Ella Galvin O'Conor.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, (January 15, 1925 – November 23, 2007) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Jesuit priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, administrator and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. He served as academic dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
at Loyola College
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
from 1959-1965. He was selected as the 17th president of the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
, which he led from 1965 until 1970. Galvin spent much of the rest of his career teaching mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at Georgetown Prep from 1970 until 2007. Nicknamed "Wish" by his family, friends and students, he was frequently voted a favorite teacher.
Early life
Aloysius Carroll Galvin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 15, 1925. His parents were Agnes Mercedes (Smith) and John T. Galvin, Jr., a wholesale lumber merchant. He was one of three children, with an older brother and sister. Their mother Agnes died when Aloysius was just five years old. His father married again, choosing Agnes's sister, Helen Regina Smith.Galvin attended Blessed Sacrament Parochial School in Baltimore for elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
. He went on to graduate from Loyola High School
Loyola Blakefield
Loyola Blakefield is a Catholic, college preparatory school established by the Society of Jesus, to educate men for others. The ideal Loyola graduate is a man of integrity who, because he strives "to find God in all things," is open to growth, dedicated to academic excellence, religious, committed...
in 1942. Galvin began attending Loyola College
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
but dropped out in 1943 to join the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's V-12 College Training Program
V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was held at Mount Saint Mary's College
Mount Saint Mary's College
Mount Saint Mary's College may mean:* Mount St Mary's College, Sheffield, England, UK* Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles, California, USASee also:* Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York, USA...
in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Emmitsburg, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...
.
Galvin was officially commissioned as a naval ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1944. He served as an executive officer on board a submarine chaser
Submarine chaser
A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...
in both the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
s during the war. He spent much of his time assigned to the Aleutian Islands. Following the end of the war, Galvin re-enrolled in Loyola College in 1946. He earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1948.
An avid athlete during his years in college, Galvin took up boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and enjoyed playing basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
while in the Navy. The Washington Post referred to him as a "basketball standout" during his time as a student at Loyola College.
Jesuits
Galvin entered the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, a Roman Catholic religious order
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
commonly known as the Jesuits, in August 1948. He was formally ordained as a Jesuit priest on June 23, 1957, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church on Calvert Street
St. Paul Street-Calvert Street
St. Paul Street and Calvert Street are a one-way pair of streets in Downtown Baltimore and areas north. The streets, which are part of Maryland Route 2, are two of Baltimore's best-known streets in the downtown area.-St. Paul Street:...
in Baltimore.
Galvin began his academic career when he became a high school Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
teacher at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia for one year. He left St. Joe's Prep in 1959 when he was appointed an academic dean at Loyola College
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
. He served as dean from 1959 to 1965. He departed to become president of the University of Scranton.
Galvin was officially inaugurated as the 17th President of the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
on September 24, 1965. He is credited with changing the way that the University was governed and making it more open and inclusive for both faculty and students. He served as president of the University until 1970.
He took a teaching position at Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
, a Jesuit high school
Jesuit Secondary Education Association
The Jesuit Secondary Education Association was founded in 1970 to address the unique needs of the Jesuit secondary school apostolate in the United States...
in North Bethesda, Maryland
North Bethesda, Maryland
North Bethesda is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It borders the city of Rockville, and is closely associated with the city.-Geography:...
. Three days after his arrival, he suffered a massive heart attack. He spent much of 1970 and 1971 recovering and living in the school's infirmary.
Galvin returned to teaching high school math at Georgetown Prep in 1971. He continued as a teacher for much of the next four decades. He also served as the school's chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
for the American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team. He was frequently voted as a favorite teacher by students and alumni.
Galvin taught at Georgetown Prep until the 2006-2007 school year when his health began to rapidly decline due to cancer.
Legacy and honors
- Galvin was inducted into the Georgetown Prep Athletic Hall of Fame on October 26, 2007.
Death
Fr. Aloysius C. Galvin died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in the Jesuit community of Georgetown Preparatory School on November 23, 2007, at the age of 82. His funeral was held at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is the name used to refer to the Marian apparition said to have appeared before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France...
at Georgetown Prep on November 26; he was buried at the Woodstock Seminary cemetery in Woodstock, Maryland
Woodstock, Maryland
Woodstock is an unincorporated community which is a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. The original village of Woodstock is located in Howard County, but the surrounding area includes portions of Baltimore County and Carroll County.- Demographics :...
on November 27.
Galvin was survived by his brother John Galvin III and sister Ella Galvin O'Conor.