O’Keefe, Vincent T.

Jesuit Father Vincent T. O’Keefe died on July 22, 2012. Fr. O’Keefe was born in Jersey City on January 10, 1920, entered the Society on August 14, 1937, in Wernersville, was ordained on August 24, 1950, in Louvain (Belgium) and pronounced final vows on August 15, 1954, in Woodstock.

After his time of formation, he was professor of fundamental theology at the Woodstock theologate.

Fr. O’Keefe served as Fordham University’s president from 1963 until 1965, when he participated in General Congregation XXXI of the Society of Jesus in Rome. At the Congregation he was elected Assistant ad providentiam to the newly-elected Superior General Pedro Arrupe, SJ.

In 1975, during General Congregation XXXII, Fr. O’Keefe became general assistant and general counselor to Fr. Arrupe. He later served in Fr. Arrupe’s place as vicar general during the superior general’s illness.

At the conclusion of General Congregation XXXIII, in 1983, Fr. O’Keefe returned to New York and became rector of Fordham’s Jesuit Community.