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In Memoriam

Jesuit Father J. David Corrigan died March 6, 2018 in St. Louis. He was 83 years old, a Jesuit for 65 years and a priest for 52 years.

Fr. Corrigan was born in Springfield, Illinois, on Nov. 1, 1934, to John James Corrigan and Bernadine Gorey Corrigan. He is preceded in death by his parents and survived by his brother, Michael Corrigan, and his sister, Sr. Judith Ann Corrigan, SSND.

Following his graduation from St. Louis University High, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, on Aug. 17, 1952, and pronounced first vows two years later. He was ordained a Catholic priest on June 9, 1965, at St. Mary’s College, St. Marys, Kansas. He pronounced his final vows on Aug. 9, 1969, at Regis University in Denver.

He began his priestly ministry as a high school teacher, first at St. Louis University High (1967-69), then at Regis Jesuit High in Denver (1969-71). He served in campus ministry at Regis University (1971-74) and in campus ministry and as a teacher at Parks College in St. Louis (1975-79).

From the early 1980s, Fr. Corrigan devoted himself to pastoral ministry in several locations. At one point he was chaplain or pastoral minister at three places at the same time. He served as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital and St. Ann’s Health Center, both in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and as assistant pastor at St. Teresa of Child Jesus in Belleville, Illinois, and Immaculate Conception in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and as pastor at St. Benedict’s Church in Doniphan, Missouri.

Fr. Corrigan’s father, John James Corrigan, was a well-known announcer in St. Louis at KXOK radio, and his son inherited his mellow, resonant bass voice, lending a particular pleasure to his sermons. He continued to celebrate the Eucharist, often at Beauvais Manor in south St. Louis, even after being missioned to the Jesuit retirement community, the Fusz Pavilion, in 2012.

Fr. Corrigan earned a bachelor’s in philosophy at Saint Louis University. He studied theology at St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, Kansas, earning the Bachelor of Sacred Theology. He also received an master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Memorial gifts may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or through this website