SHC mourns loss of Fr. Lucey, S.J.

By The Catholic Week
Rev. Gregory Francis Lucey, S.J., 34th and 36th president of Spring Hill College passed away Sept. 30, 2021, at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wis., after a recent diagnosis of melanoma. He was 88 years old.
 A funeral will be held in Milwaukee and Spring Hill College is making plans for a memorial Mass and burial in Mobile.
 E. Joseph Lee, PhD, president of Spring Hill College reflected, “Fr. Lucey touched so many lives here at Spring Hill College and in our community. While his loss will be felt deeply for some time to come, his love for Christ, the college, and the Mobile community will continue to live on. We see evidence of his stewardship all over campus. As we reflect on his legacy, remember his family and our community in your prayers.”
 Lucey became the 34th president of Spring Hill College on June 1, 1997. During his presidency, six new buildings and three residence halls were built, and renovations of 12 existing buildings and the athletic fields were completed. He led the efforts to restore St. Joseph Chapel and was responsible for many restorations and developments throughout campus/
 In 2005, Lucey received the Civitan Club of Mobile’s “Mobilian of the Year” award in recognition of his many improvements to Spring Hill’s campus and his efforts to incorporate the Mobile community. In 2009, the newly-restored Rev. Gregory F. Lucey, S.J. Administration Center was named in his honor.
Rev. Robert L. Poirier, PsyD, S.J, Rector of Spring Hill’s Jesuit Community said, “Fr. Lucey’s love for St. Ignatius and the Society of Jesus will never be forgotten. His passion for Ignatian Spiritually encouraged growth throughout our community.  We are grateful that we had the opportunity to serve with him. We will honor his legacy through our love and service as he did every day.” 
 Lucey left Spring Hill in 2009 to lead the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) in Washington, overseeing 28 Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the U.S. He returned to Spring Hill in 2013 to serve a second term as 36th president until 2015. He was then appointed Chancellor and served the College until 2020.  
 He has served as the vice president of development at Seattle University and as the rector of the Jesuit Community at Marquette University. Other career highlights include serving in the 34th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus in 1995 and serving as the president and chairman of the board of the National Jesuit Conference in Washington.
Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J., current president of the Jesuit Conference, reflected, “Fr. Lucey dedicated his life to servant leadership in Jesuit education. First and foremost, he was a tremendous priest who wore his heart on his sleeve. Greg was both an extraordinary listener as well as a gifted storyteller. His warm smile, sense of humor and zest for life will be greatly missed.”
 Fr. Lucey found a second home in Mobile thanks to his tenure at Spring Hill, but he was a Midwesterner through and through. Fr. Lucey was born and raised in a large Irish Catholic family in Prairie du Chien, Wis., where faith and public service were pillars for him and his siblings, including his brother, former Wisconsin Gov. Patrick Lucey.
Fr. Lucey entered the Society of Jesus in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1964. In August 2020, Lucey celebrated his 70th year in the Society of Jesus.