Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Frederick P. Zagone, SJ, who died on March 10, 2026 at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was 67 years old. May he rest in peace.
Fred is preceded in death by his parents: Joseph Zagone and Juliette Zagone (nee Marcotte). He is survived by his siblings: James Zagone, Joseph Zagone, Carmella Foster, Margie Zamzow, and Rosanne Zagone.
Fred was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, on April 30, 1958. He studied sociology at Loyola University Chicago for two years (1978-1980) before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of San Francisco (1982). Fred entered the Chicago Province at Loyola House Jesuit Novitiate in Berkley, Michigan, on September 4, 1982. He was ordained on June 5, 1993 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and pronounced final vows at Marquette University on May 31, 2000.
While in the Society, Fred earned a master’s degree in education in community counseling from Loyola University Chicago in 1988. He also earned a master’s degree in divinity (1992) and a master’s degree in theology (1993) from Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
During regency, Fred worked in the campus ministry and student services departments at Xavier University (1987-1989). After ordination, Fred was the director of development at the University of Scranton (1993-1998) before being missioned to Marquette University where he worked until his death. While at Marquette, Fred’s duties included: director of development (1998-2002); assistant to the vice president for advancement (2002-2018); acting vice president for for mission and ministry (2018-2020); and university chaplain (2020-2024). In addition, Fred was the minster of the Jesuit community (2016-2020). Although he remained a member of the Marquette University Jesuit Community, during his illness Fred spent a good deal of time in St. Camillus Jesuit Community.
Fred was a devoted Jesuit, priest, and friend who welcomed everyone as if he were welcoming Jesus. He was generous, hospitable, and genuinely enjoyed spending time with others. He loved to gather people together for meals, parties, and celebrations. He was jovial, humorous, and full of life. People felted cared for and loved by Fred and he engaged others where they were and helped them to see God working in their lives — both in the joys and also in the challenges. Because of his love for his colleagues and the benefactors of Marquette University, Fred did not stop working when he was diagnosed with and fought cancer. Rather, Fred continued to be present to others as his health and energy allowed.
Fr. Larry Biondi, SJ, has shared these words about Fred:
Fred was a Jesuit priest who was fiercely and enthusiastically determined and committed to continue to lead, guide, and serve others to become closer to God — even during a year and a half of struggling with his illness.
Fr. Paul Mueller, SJ, has this to say about Fred:
Fred was the most loyal of friends; you could always count on him to be there for you. He was unfailingly consistent when it came to remembering and acknowledging others’ birthdays and anniversaries. Above all, he was indomitable: whenever a setback or personal hurt knocked Fred for a loop, he would get back on his feet, dust himself off, and acknowledge the hurt frankly and honestly. And then he would move on, in a positive spirit. Nothing ever stopped Fred from being himself, or from being generously of service to others.
Fr. Michael Class, SJ, commented on Fred’s ability to make friends:
Fred was stuck on the Pennsylvania turnpike for two days during a blizzard. He made friends with a married couple driving a tractor-trailer and was able to have meals and watch movies [on DVDs] with them in the [large] cab of the truck. Fred would tell the story with glee, and one could always hear the appreciation for his new found friends who helped him turn a dangerous situation into a Turnpike “villa” experience!
Fr. Michael Graham, SJ, has these memories of Fred:
Fred did his regency at Xavier University after I was there for mine and we struck up a friendship as I would come back for breaks from theology. That friendship just continued naturally as the years moved forward. To say that Fred enjoyed life is a considerable understatement, as many—many!—can attest. Good times seemed always to swirl around him. He was incredibly faithful to his friends, and his role in the development shop at Marquette was a perfect match for his outgoing, generous personality. Ryan Duns, SJ, got it exactly right when he emailed a number of us on March 10 to let us know that Fred had died: “Fred always showed up,” he said. And he always showed up exactly as Fred. How could we not love him, even as we smiled!
The health issues Fred was asked to bear in the last several years brought out something remarkable in him. He continued “showing up” regardless, showing up as the man he had always been, resolutely cheerful and gracious, even now with this challenge in addition. The Church has often been blessed with leaders who have showed us how to walk towards God in our last days by their public acceptance of their final infirmities. Fred did exactly that on a local scale. It was a consolation to watch it happen—somewhat surprising, perhaps, but an even deeper consolation for being surprising. We learned something we didn’t quite know before about the soul that had been there all along.
I’m so glad that one of Fred’s very last memories was seeing Marquette upset UConn the Saturday before he died. And I can’t help but think that, on the drive back to Camillus, he very well may have smiled as he looked out the window and thought to himself, “NOW, Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace!” He will be deeply missed and will leave behind no shortage of friends who will smile as they raise glasses in his memory.
