Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Terrence A. Baum, SJ, who died on July 29, 2024 at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was 72 years old. May he rest in peace.
Terry is survived by his brothers, Laurence Baum and Mark Baum.
Terry was born in Lorain, Ohio, on August 28, 1951. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Xavier University before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on September 2, 1973 at Loyola House Novitiate in Berkley, Michigan. He was ordained a priest on June 20, 1981 at Madonna della Strada Chapel on the campus of Loyola University Chicago, and pronounced final vows on February 2, 1992 at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York, New York.
While in the Society, Terry earned a master’s degree in theology from the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1981) and a master’s degree in education from Fordham University (1991).
During regency, Terry taught chemistry at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois (1975-1978). After ordination, he was the minster and on the formation staff at Loyola House Novitiate (1981-1984). Terry then began his life-long ministry in the secondary education apostolate. He was the academic assistant principal at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio (1984-1989) before participating in the JSSAP Program, a training program for people interested in being high school administrators, at Fordham University (1989-1991). After six months as the acting socius to the Chicago Provincial, Terry was missioned to be the headmaster at Xavier High School in New York, New York (1991-1997) and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois (1997-2003). Terry then spent thirteen years as president of Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri (2004-2017) where he oversaw fundraising efforts that generated $41.3 million in contributions which allowed capital improvements including the Loyola Center athletic complex, a dining commons, and interactive classrooms. He also started the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program at Rockhurst High School, the first STEM school in Kansas or Missouri. He also wrote the school’s “Alma Mater” which is still in use today.
In 2017, Terry returned to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati where he was a chaplain, worked in the Advancement Department (2017-2018), Director of Ignatian Programs (2018-2021), and worked in the Campus Ministry Department. Since 2023, Terry had been receiving treatment for melanoma lesions on his brain. In July, he was missioned to St. Camillus Jesuit Community to care for his health and pray for the Church and the Society of Jesus.
Terry, a devoted priest and Jesuit, was a great proponent of secondary education and the affect caring high school teachers, coaches, and administrators can have on the minds and hearts of teenagers. In his various roles in secondary education, he was able to help high school students envision a positive future filled with God’s graces. Terry kept in touch with many graduates of the schools to which he was missioned and was able to be participate in the lives of these alumni during marriages, baptisms, and even some funerals.
Terry was welcoming and hospitable to others, greeting people with a large smile and a warm welcome. Terry loved engaging and conversing with others. He often “held court” around the breakfast or dinner table and shared stories or expressed his thoughts about what was happening in the world, in the city, in the school, or of events in the past. Terry had a great sense of humor and enjoyed gently teasing his friends. Terry kept his sense of humor throughout his melanoma treatments and until his death.
Fr. Mike Vincent, SJ, has these memories of Terry:
Terry was a novitiate classmate, a great confidant, and a wonderful friend.
During the Novitiate, because he wanted to be useful in terms of liturgical music, Terry taught himself to play the guitar.
I had a chance to visit him once in Chicago, where he had begun regency and, just to show you how quirky he was, he met me at Water Tower Place wearing a yellow pith helmet. He didn’t answer me when I asked him where the safari was.
I visited Terry once when he was the headmaster of Xavier High School in lower Manhattan and had a chance to see him at work. His determination to do a great job later propelled him into the presidency at Rockhurst High School.
Fr. Richie Salmi, SJ, has this to say about Terry:
Terry and I were novitiate classmates, and we had a great celebration of our 50th jubilee last summer. Terry wanted to make sure we celebrated together with our other classmates in one of Milwaukee’s best restaurants. It was a lovely evening sharing stories of fifty years of ministry. Terry served on the Board of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and he impressed me with his considerable knowledge of Jesuit secondary education. He was dedicated to serving that board so much so that he attended the last board meeting by Zoom from his hospital bed!
