February 3, 2010

Longtime Regis professor-priest Father Bocklage dies

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Jesuit Father Richard F. Bocklage died on Jan. 25 at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was 87 years old and a Jesuit for 67 years.

Born in St. Louis on May 19, 1922, he was exposed to the Society of Jesus when he attended St. Louis University High School and a year at St. Louis University. He entered the novitiate at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, on Aug. 8, 1942. He did his philosophy studies at West Baden, Ind., and, following his regency teaching English at Creighton Prep, he pursued his theology studies at St. Mary’s College in Kansas where he was ordained on June 16, 1955.

After completing tertianship in 1957, he was assigned to Regis College (now Regis University) in Denver where year in and year out he taught English literature and literary criticism until 1991. He served briefly as head of the English department in the early 1970s.

When he retired from teaching, he moved to the Xavier Jesuit Community on the edge of the Regis University campus where he was available to do pastoral ministry as the need arose. Failing health necessitated his move to the Fusz Pavilion in August 2009 where he spent the remainder of his days praying for the Church and the Society of Jesus order.

Visitation was held the evening of Jan. 28 at St. Francis Xavier College Church, followed by a funeral Mass. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery. Father Bocklage is survived by two sisters: Julienne Walker of Columbia, Mo., and Jeannette Russo of St. Louis; and a brother, Vincent Bocklage of St. Louis.