In Memoriam

Leedale, Walter F. SJ

posted by: webkmccarthy on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

(Oregon) Fr. Walter Francis Leedale died February 7, 2008, at the Jesuit residence on the Gonzaga University campus, Spokane, Washington. He was 80 years old, a Jesuit for 64 years, a priest for 51 years. He was the longest continuous resident of Jesuit House on the Gonzaga campus, having been assigned there in 1964.

Fr. Leedale was born in Missoula, Montana, on November 12, 1923. He attended grade and high schools in Missoula and began college studies at Gonzaga University in 1942. He entered the Society of Jesus January 1, 1943 and pronounced his first vows as a Jesuit on February 15, 1945, at the Jesuit Novitiate in Sheridan, Oregon. He continued his studies at Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane, Washington, and Alma College in Los Gatos, California. Fr. Leedale was ordained to the priesthood in Spokane on June 16, 1956 and then accepted teaching positions at Marquette High School in Yakima, Washington, and Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. Upon completion of a Master’s degree from the University of Montana, he accepted a faculty position in the Department of Music (Voice) at Gonzaga University, a position he retained until his retirement in 1989.
    
Retirement from the classroom did not mean retirement from work. From 1989 to 1997 Fr. Leedale worked in the university administration as special advisor and assistant director of the Student Academic Center. From 1997 to the present he was assistant to the Oregon Province Archivist at Gonzaga University.
    
Besides his full-time teaching and administrative career, Fr. Leedale was also known locally as a vocal soloist having sung portions in a production of Carmina Burana with the Spokane Chorale and Spokane Symphony. He also played minor roles in the Metropolitan Opera productions of La Bohème, L’Elisir d’Amore, and Don Giovanni at Santa Barbara.
    
Fr. Leedale was the recipient of many professional honors and awards, among them recognition by the National Music Honors Society (1965), the Music Academy of the West (1967) and the Banff School of Fine Arts (1970).