Woodward, John B.

Jesuit Father John B. Woodward, 87, died on Jan. 23, 2012 at Manresa Hall in Philadelphia. He was born Feb. 14, 1925, entered the Society on Aug. 14, 1948, and was ordained on July 22, 1958.

Fr. Woodward was a highly respected Jesuit teacher, and he lived his life to the fullest. He was known for being a math genius in high school and attended Georgetown University on a full scholarship.

He then served in the Navy for a few years, and when he returned home he went to Rome with his sister. While in Rome, Fr. Woodward had the chance to meet the pope in a new brown tailored suit he acquired by luck in the city earlier that week. The pope reportedly told him, “I like your brown suit, but you know you’re supposed to wear black when you meet the pope.”

It was in Rome that Fr. Woodward first realized that he wanted to be a priest and pursued becoming a Jesuit upon returning to the United States. After this, he taught in Bethesda, Md., at Gonzaga High School for 40 years before retiring to Manresa Hall at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Fr. Woodward passed away after fighting diabetes for 50 years.