Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Richard Twohig, SJ, who died on October 21, 2024 at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 91 years old. May he rest in peace.
Dick was born on January 16, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland (1951) and attended John Carroll University (1951-1954) before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on August 8, 1954 at Milford Jesuit Novitiate in Milford, Ohio. He became a member of the Detroit Province when it was established in 1955. Dick was ordained on June 17, 1965 at Colombiere College in Clarkston, Michigan, and pronounced final vows on August 15, 1971 at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. While in the Society, Dick earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Xavier University (1958). He earned a licentiate degree in philosophy (1961) and a master’s degree in physics (1963) from Saint Louis University. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology from Bellarmine School of Theology in North Aurora, Illinois (1966).
During regency, Dick taught physics and math at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (1961-1962). After ordination, he was a teacher (1967-1969) and the principal (1969-1972) at his alma mater, St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. He then was missioned to internal governance as the Socius to two Detroit Province provincials: Fr. Paul Besanceney, SJ (1972-1977), and Fr. Michael Lavelle, SJ (1977-1980).
Dick returned to secondary education where he was principal of University of Detroit Jesuit High School (UDJHS) for more than a decade (1980-1993) and headmaster of Loyola High School in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania (1994-1997).
Upon his return from Africa, became the alumni chaplain at UDJHS (1997-2005). Dick was asked to focus some of his abundant energy to internal governance. He was missioned to the Detroit Province office were he was the provincial assistant for international missions (1997-2008), the provincial assistant for secondary education (1998-2005) and the provincial assistant for health care (2005-2010). In addition to these province office positions, Dick was the rector of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School Community (1999-2005) and the superior and director of Colombiere Center (2005-2013). Dick spent three years (2013-2016) working in the Adult Faith Formation program at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, before being missioned in 2016 to Colombiere Center to perform pastoral ministry and to pray for the Church and the Society.
Dick was a devoted priest and Jesuit who was available to be missioned where the need was the greatest. He delighted in helping men and women to deepen their love for Christ and influenced countless high school students and staff in Cleveland, Detroit, and Tanzania. Although preferring to work directly with others, his impressive administrative skills kept him in administration roles and internal governance throughout his Jesuit life. His organizational talents were put to good use in the province office, in province high schools, and internationally.
Dick had a commanding presence — and voice — and was able to quiet rowdy students at assemblies in gymnasiums with a single shouted word. He tended to be strict in following the rules but was always willing to make exceptions when necessary. He had firm beliefs and specific ways of doing things. Although some bristled when he stuck to his convictions, this attribute helped UDJHS in the 1980s when the student population was very low because parents were concerned about sending their sons to school in Detroit. Because Dick did not lower the standards and accept students who could not flourish at UDJHS, the school retained its excellent reputation. This renown brought many students to the school in the 1990s.
Dick loved the outdoors: camping, hiking, canoeing, and biking. Dick especially loved spending time — including Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations — at Villa Marquette in Omena, Michigan, with close friends such as Fr. Jack White, SJ. He loved good meals, visited and knew many restaurants, and was an excellent chef.