Pedrotti, Frank L.

Fr. Frank L. Pedrotti, SJ, died peacefully May 10, 2010, at the Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis, Missouri. He was approaching his 78th birthday, was a Jesuit for 46 years and in his 40th year as a priest.

Fr. Pedrotti was born in Zeigler, Illinois, on May 31, 1932, and attended the public schools in Zeigler and Livingston, Illinois. After graduating from Livingston Community High School in 1950, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Science and Mathematics at Illinois State University in Normal and his Master’s and Doctorate in Physics from the University of Cincinnati. Shortly after receiving his doctorate, he arrived at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant and began his novitiate on July 5, 1962. He pursued his philosophy and theology studies at Saint Louis University adding a Ph.L. and a M.Div. to his collection of degrees. He was ordained on June 12, 1970 at St. Leonard’s College in Centerville, Ohio, and did his tertianship under Fr. David Fleming at Ministry Training Services in Denver in 1977. Fr. Pedrotti pronounced his final vows at Marquette University on November 5, 1977.

Fr. Pedrotti entered the novitiate some six weeks before the scheduled entrance date in 1962, and his course of studies was abbreviated given his age and previous education. He did not do a formal regency but would often disappear in the summers to “do research” in solid-state physics. The intrigue that surrounded these summer assignments gave rise to speculation about secret government projects or involvement with some aspect of the astronaut moon-landing program.  Fr. Pedrotti, however, was quiet and reserved, and spoke not a word.

His brilliance in theoretical physics and his ability to explain clearly what he knew positioned him well for a career as a university professor. His early assignments after ordination took him to Xavier University in Cincinnati and to Regis and Rockhurst Colleges, but the science departments were too small for his talents. Marquette University was expanding its engineering department at the time, and he found a home there between 1977 and 1994.

During the years in Milwaukee, Fr. Pedrotti kept feeling that he was being called to Rome both to get in touch with his Italian roots and to be more deeply involved in Ignatian spirituality. He spent a year in 1988 exploring possibilities and another year in 1993 working with Vatican Radio; but he never found a good match for what he was looking for.  In 1994 was assigned to the Rockhurst University community where his thorough, precise manner made him a good candidate to be the minister of the community. In 1998 Prentice Hall published Optics and Vision, the college text on which he and his brother Leno had collaborated.

In 1999 Frank moved to St. Louis and took up a position as business manager with the Institute of Jesuit Sources and faithfully oversaw the production and shipping of the books the Institute published. When Parkinson’s Disease made it difficult for him to manage those tasks, he moved to the Fusz Pavilion in 2007 where he spent his final three years praying for the Church and the Society until this morning when God called him to home. May this gentle man enjoy everlasting peace.

In addition to his Jesuit community, he is survived by a brother, a sister and many cousins, nieces and nephews.