Smith, Francis J.

Jesuit Father Francis J. Smith died on Dec. 13, 2012, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich. Fr. Smith was born on May 22, 1920, in Lorain, Ohio. He entered the Society of Jesus on Sept. 1, 1939 at Milford, Ohio. He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1952 at West Baden College, West Baden Springs, Ind. He took final vows on Feb. 2, 1957.

Fr. Smith attended John Carroll University for one year before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus in 1939. He earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Xavier University and a master’s degree in English from Loyola University Chicago. He earned a licentiate of Philosophy and an S.T.L. (i.e. sacrae theologiae licentiatus) from West Baden College in West Baden Springs, Ind. He also studied at Oxford University.

Fr. Smith was an English professor throughout his life. During regency at the University of Detroit High School, Fr. Smith taught Latin and English (1946-1949). He taught English at the University of Detroit (1957-1959), Colombiere College (1959-1963), and at John Carroll University (1963-2006). Fr. Smith had been praying for the Church and Society at Colombiere Center since 2006.

Fr. Smith was also a published poet with four books of poetry to his name and John Carroll University inaugurated the “Francis J. Smith, S.J., Endowment for the “Promotion of Poetry” in his honor.