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August 16, 2000
Father Zusy dies at 71
With a zest for knowledge and love for teaching, Dominican Father Robert Joseph Zusy traveled the world on a joyful journey of hope and discovery. A scholar of giant stature who embraced a life of humble poverty, Father Zusy died August 6 in Denver after a bout with cancer. He was 71.
Father Zusy, the oldest of the two children of Joseph W. Zusy, Jr., and Ludmilla B. Wuchterl, was born on December 21, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wis. For his early education he attended St. Anne Grammar School and St. John Cathedral High School, both in Milwaukee. Upon graduation from high school he attended Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, for two years (1946-48) and entered the Dominican Novitiate at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Ill., in June of 1948, where he was given the religious name Dennis.
On June 25, 1949, he made his first professional of vows at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, and remained there for his philosophical studies (1949-52), earning the Ph.B. and Ph.L. degrees in philosophy from the Pontifical Faculty of Philosophy. After making his solemn professional of vows there on June 25, 1952, he was transferred to St. Rose of Lima Priory, Dubuque, Iowa, for theological studies, earning the Lectorate in Sacred Theology. On May 19, 1955, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Loras Lane, auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Father Zusy's first ministerial assignment was to St. Xavier College, Chicago, Ill. (1956-62), which began a lifetime of teaching. During this time in addition to his teaching he studied biology and chemistry at St. Xavier College and clinical psychology at Loyola University of Chicago. For the next five years (1962-67) he pursued graduate studies in biology at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., obtaining the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biology. Upon completion of his graduate studies he held several teaching positions simultaneously during the next four years: (1967-70) professor of psychology and philosophy of science, Pontifical Faculty of Philosophy, River Forest; Ill.; (1967-71) assistant professor of biology, Rosary College, River Forest; (1967-71) assistant professor of biology, Concordia College, River Forest; and (1969) visiting assistant professor at Northwestern University. During these years he was also a lecturer for the Thomist Association.
In 1971, Father Zusy was assigned to St. Rose of Lima Priory, Dubuque, Iowa, where for the next ten years he served as professor of philosophy and religion at Aquinas Institute as well as associate chaplain and professor of biology at Clarke College. Father Zusy loved nothing better than taking a group of college biology students on a field trip across the United States. His own continuing study of biology led him to summer programs at Colorado State University (Fort Collins), the University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas), the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
When Aquinas Institute was relocated in St. Louis, Mo., in the summer of 1981, Father Zusy too moved to St Louis maintaining his faculty status and assuming the position of Master of Students for the Dominicans at St. Dominic Priory. In 1985 the newly-elected Provincial, Father Donald Goergen, asked Father Zusy to be his Socius and Vicar Provincial, positions which required his transfer to Chicago where he resided at St. Pius V Priory. He served the Province and the Provincial in these positions for nine years and then continued to serve the Province as the Director of the Society for Vocational Support (1994-97). During this time he also served as Prior to St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Ill. (1990-96).
His final assignment began in August 1997 when he was elected prior of the novitiate community in Denver, a position he held until June 2000.
Father Zusy found himself again in the classroom, teaching the novices about the history and Constitutions of the Order and serving as a professor of philosophy at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary at the John Paul II Center.
In December of 1999 he was diagnosed with cancer. Various forms of treatment followed and he continued his teaching. In June 2000 the cancer entered a very aggressive stage and his condition gradually deteriorated. He was first cared for at the priory, then in the hospital, and finally at the Hospice of St. John. He passed away Sunday, Aug. 6, 2000, the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Father Zusy was known for his love of and service to the brethren. He served the intellectual life of the Province through his teaching and his service as Assistant Promoter of Studies (1969-73), Master of Students (1981-85), and Regent of Studies (1994-99). In addition he served on numerous boards and commissions.
A Rosary was held at 5 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10. A Mass of the Resurrection was held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 11 at Saint Dominic Catholic Church, 2915 Federal Boulevard. Interment is at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
