Rev. Robert F. Weiss S.J.

Father Robert F. Weiss, SJ, died June 9, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was 91 years old and about to mark the 70th anniversary of his entrance into the Society of Jesus. A former president of both Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., and St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, his life will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14 at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis. Visitation will be immediately before, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. June 14 at the same location. Burial will be at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.

Robert F. “Bob” Weiss was born in St. Louis on August 27, 1924, to Frank L. G. Weiss and Helen Beck Weiss. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth, and his sisters Carol Spies and Joan Huelskoetter. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Dora Weiss, his cousin Patricia Herbergs, as well as nephews Louis (Patricia) and Stephen (Jane) Huelskoetter, the late James (Martha), Thomas (Kathleen) , William (Connie) Spies and Kenneth Weiss, nieces Linda (Carl) Fortner, Shelley (Dennis) Ripplinger, Karen (Robert) Steinbruegge, Sharon (Robert) Griffith, Susan (Dennis) Ragan, and Sandra (Robert) Derickson, and his brothers in the Society of Jesus.

He attended St. Philip Neri Grade School and St. Louis University High School, graduating in 1942. He served in the 42nd (Rainbow) Division of the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, and was First Sergeant of Company M222nd Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the combat infantryman’s badge and two battle stars for his service in the European Theater.

After the war, he entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1946. After making his First Vows at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Mo, he earned a bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude with a Greek major and a Latin minor from Saint Louis University, which also awarded him a master of arts degree in education and licentiates in both philosophy and theology.

He taught Latin at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo. (1953-56), then studied sacred theology at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary's, Kansas. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 16, 1959. He served as administrative assistant to the president of Saint Louis University in 1961-62, before returning to school at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a doctorate in education and educational psychology. He pronounced his final vows as a Jesuit on February 2, 1964 at St. Bonifacius Jesuit College in Minnesota.

He served at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., as assistant dean (1964-66) then dean (1966-73). He was also a professor of education during those years. In 1970, he was appointed a province consultor for the former Missouri Province. He returned to his hometown of St. Louis and his alma mater to serve as president of St. Louis University High School, 1973-77. He then returned to Rockhurst University to serve for 11 years as president, 1977-88.

After a sabbatical (1988-89), Fr. Weiss moved to the Missouri Province office in St. Louis, where he was the province treasurer and then provincial assistant for higher education. Beginning in 2007, he worked with the Advancement Office of the province, work that he continued even after he moved to the Fusz Pavilion, the retirement community for Jesuits in St. Louis.

His experience and educational expertise resulted in membership on a number of boards of trustees, boards of directors and state and national commissions, including Saint Louis University, Creighton University, Loyola University of New Orleans, the University of San Francisco, Fontbonne University, Rockhurst University, Marymount College, United Student Aid Funds, Inc., the Midwest Bioethics Center, the Sacred Heart Program, Saint Louis University High School, St. Elizabeth Academy, Boys Hope Girls Hope, Our Little Haven, and Loyola Academy of St. Louis. He served as chairman of the board of the Kansas City Regional Council for Higher Education, and as president of the board of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri. He was a member of the Commission on Governmental Relations of the American Council on Education and of the Advisory Committee to the Missouri State Coordinating Board for Higher Education, and served on the Commission on National Challenges in Higher Education of the American Council on Education. He served as a trustee of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Fund and a member of the Financial Advisory Board of the Sisters of the Good Shepard.

He received the Chancellor’s Award from Rockhurst University, the W.F. Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service in Education from William Jewell College, the Founder’s Award from Fontbonne University, and the Backer Award from St. Louis University High School.

In January 2001, his Army regiment was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation “for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy 24 January 1945 to 25 January 1945.”

With his genial personality and steady disposition, he was a successful and well-loved administrator who had a vast network of friends. He seemed to forget no one, and just about everyone who he knew felt a personal and unique connection with him.

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 online at http://jesuitscentralsouthern.org

Arrangements under the direction of HOFFMEISTER COLONIAL MORTUARY, Saint Louis, MO.