Loyola Mourns the Passing of Rev. Gregory M. Goethals, SJ '73

Dear Loyola Community,

It is with extraordinary sadness that we share news of the passing of former President Rev. Gregory M. Goethals, SJ ’73.

Beloved for his infectious smile, witty sense of humor, and visionary leadership, he led Loyola High School of Los Angeles for 19 years, remaining steadfast in his commitment to ensuring that every student who walked through our halls had the most profound experience possible of God’s unconditional love.

A Southern California native who grew up in Glendale, Fr. Greg (as he was affectionately called by many) matriculated to Santa Clara University following his graduation from Loyola High School in 1973. He earned his BA in History and held multiple master’s degrees: the first, in Divinity, from Jesuit School of Theology; the second, in Theology, from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA (now part of Boston College), and the third, in Counseling, from the University of San Francisco. While studying for his master’s degree in Counseling, Fr. Greg completed two internships that would forever impact his life: at the Shantie Project, an AIDS services organization, and at the AIDS Health Project in San Francisco, CA.

Fr. Greg entered the Society of Jesus in 1978 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He then spent five years as a faculty member at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix where he served as the Director of Campus Ministry. Following his time at Brophy, he went on to his next assignment at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, where he held positions as a counselor, Theology teacher, Director of Campus Ministry, Superior of the Jesuit community, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was also a trustee at Loyola until he received an assignment in 2005 that would bring him back home to serve as the Acting Superior of the Jesuit community, and Director of Adult Spirituality.

During his 19-year tenure as president, Fr. Greg oversaw the successful execution of the $100 million Campaign for Loyola, which included shepherding the completion of the Hannon Ardolf building complex and the upgrading of Loyola Hall. Additionally, he spearheaded and completed the remodel of Ruppert Hall for the Jesuit community’s living quarters and the Office of Advancement.

Some other key milestones that Fr. Greg accomplished during his time at 1901 Venice Blvd. include: guiding the school’s 150th Anniversary Celebration; engineering and implementing two strategic plans for Loyola; overseeing the campaign for the building of Caruso Hall; planning and supervising the re-landscaping of Hayden Circle and the Venice Boulevard frontage of Loyola’s campus; expanding Loyola’s campus footprint from 19 to its present 22 acres, including the acquisition of 17 parcels of additional land for Loyola; and increasing Loyola’s endowment from $34 million to approximately $85 million today.

Fr. Greg also established Loyola’s full-time Office for Mission, the full-time professional Office of Human Resources, and a permanent Archives Department. Additionally, he oversaw a complete reorganization of the two-tiered board of trustees and regents into a streamlined single board. As the president of Loyola High School, he effectively served on many boards across the country furthering his legacy of leadership, collaboration and community engagement.

Fr. Greg was an extraordinary man. He loved his family, his brother Jesuits, and the Loyola High School community dearly. He took great pride in this school and all that it could become. He loved to engage with our students and connect with members of the Mothers’ Guild and Fathers’ Club, both present and past.

He enjoyed the arts and going to the theater, locally in Los Angeles, and on Broadway in New York. He loved the work of lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and the poetry that resided in his lyrics: lessons to heal, teach and inspire. He believed so deeply in the transformational power of song.

Fr. Greg cared about inclusivity and belonging on our campus, and he LOVED his role leading our school as president. He would often say that he felt like he was the luckiest man in the world to have the job.

He was no stranger to taking to the stage: whether for an impromptu community sing-a-long or offering powerful remarks to remind us why Loyola High School of Los Angeles was “the best damn high school in Southern California.” That was a phrase that became one of his great anthems.

We will miss his passion, his heart and his light. We will miss his “bless you, my daughter” or “bless you, my son.” We will miss his “good, good, goods.” We will miss the sound of his voice. We will miss his one-of-a-kind, larger than life personality that could captivate the whole room in just a single second.

What a beautiful gift it was to always know that he was there – for all of us. And what a profound gift to know that he lives on through all of the lives that he has touched. There was no one quite like Fr. Greg.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and brother Jesuits during this time of insurmountable grief, but we are better because of his grace and leadership.

May the angels and all the Jesuit saints and blessed lead him to his eternal rest, and may God welcome him, hold him, and keep him in the palm of his hand, forever.

AMDG,
Jamal K. Adams ’90
President

C. Drew Planting ’77
Chairman, Board of Directors