Dunphy, Richard W.

Jesuit Father Richard W. Dunphy died Dec. 12, 2012, at the Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis. He was 71 years old and a Jesuit for 53 years. Born in Milwaukee on June 14, 1941, Fr. Dunphy entered the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus at the Jesuit Novitiate in Oshkosh, Wisc., on Aug. 25, 1959. He would later transcribe to the Missouri Province after serving in St. Louis for many years. Fr. Dunphy completed a B.A. in Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, an M.A. in English at Marquette University in Milwaukee and an M.A. in Theology at Saint Louis University. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 11, 1973, at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis.

After ordination, Fr. Dunphy joined the formation team for the Jesuit scholastics at Saint Louis University, providing spiritual direction and coordinating the liturgies at Fusz Memorial. He then began doctoral studies at the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum in Rome, completing an S.T.D. in Spirituality in 1983.

Fr. Dunphy served as a chaplain in the Pastoral Care Department at Saint Louis University Hospital from 1983 to 1988. He responded generously to the spiritual needs of the patients, established lifelong friendships with colleagues and earned the respect of medical personnel throughout the hospital. During this time, Fr. Dunphy developed a special concern for victims of AIDS and coordinated a yearlong program of AIDS Education for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In 1988, Fr. Dunphy became the Assistant to the President for Mission and Ministry at Saint Louis University. He served in that position until 1993.

After a short time as vice rector at the Gregorian University in Rome, Fr. Dunphy returned to Saint Louis University where he worked in the Development and Mission and Ministry offices. In 1997 he was appointed rector of the Jesuit community at Regis University, where he also served as assistant to the president. He became the first director of Regis University’s Institute for the Common Good, an organization that provides a place for community dialogue and public deliberation. In 2002, Fr. Dunphy became a retreat and spiritual director at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House in Sedalia, Colo., where he served for the next ten years. He was well known for his outreach to the Alcoholic Anonymous community and gave AA retreats throughout the country.

In 2012 Fr. Dunphy developed lung cancer and returned to St. Louis. As the disease progressed, Fr. Dunphy graciously accepted his infirmed condition and continued to show concern for friends and members of the community. Fr. Dunphy is survived by his brother, Patrick, and his sister, Lynn Schindler.