June 23, 2024
St. John’s University mourns the passing of Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., its 16th President, on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
“I am Joseph, your brother.” With those humble words spoken on August 1, 2013, Fr. Levesque introduced himself to the University community that he would lead for one important year after the retirement of the long-serving Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.
“I simply ask you to please pray for me,” Fr. Levesque stressed. “This is a new venture, to come to such a large and wonderful University. It’s a time of transition. Please pray for me so that I can be successful in my new position with all of you here at St. John’s.”
On July 10, 2013, the St. John’s UniversityBoard of Trustees elected Fr. Levesque to serve as President of the University while it conducted a national search. Shortly after that search was completed in Spring 2014, Fr. Levesque returned to Niagara University to resume his role as President Emeritus.
“He was a true servant of the Church as priest, Provincial, Chair of two University Boards, President of theConference of Major Superiors of Men, and President of two Catholic,Vincentian universities,” stated Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M. ’09HON, who in 2013 was Vice Chairman of the St. John’s Board of Trustees and Provincial of theEastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission.
A native of North Tarrytown, NY, Fr. Levesque was ordained a Vincentian priest on May 27, 1967, at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, PA. He taught religious studies at St. John’s Preparatory School in Brooklyn, NY, and at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Princeton, NJ, before being assigned to Niagara’s religious studies department in 1970. Fr. Levesque left his teaching duties at Niagara University to pursue his studies in theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he earned his doctoral degree.
In 1978, Fr. Levesque resumed teaching at Niagara University and was named Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the college’s graduate division. He remained in the post until 1986, when he returned to seminary work, serving as president of St. Joseph’s Seminary.
Fr. Levesque was later elected Provincial Superior of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission in 1990. He stepped down from the position in June of 1999 after the maximum nine-year term, and, in 2000 he was named the 25th president of Niagara University.
He served as Niagara University’s president for 13 years (2000–13), making him the fourth longest-tenured president in the history of the Catholic and Vincentian institution. Under Fr. Levesque’s leadership, Niagara University experienced a continuous process of transformation that significantly developed the physical character of the university’s campus and its 21st-century approach to teaching and learning.
In June of 2013, Niagara University’s Institute for Civic Engagement was renamed theRev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Institute for Civic Engagement to honor the long-tenured president and his commitment to the community.
“Fr. Levesque was one of the most influential leaders in our province’s history,” observed Rev. Aidan R. Rooney, C.M., M.Div., M.Th. ’78NDC, Executive Vice President for Mission. “His leadership focused our province’s commitment to the economically poor more deeply than ever before. His personal and professional commitment to Vincentian higher education is part of the story of both St. John’s University and Niagara University. Our continuing Catholic and Vincentian identity owes much to the choices he made in seeing to the preparation and assignment of key Vincentians to both universities.”
Rev. Bernard M. Tracey, C.M. ’70C, Vincentian Superior, Niagara University, a longtime friend of Fr. Levesque, shared:“In addition to all that Fr. Levesque accomplished, his deep love for family and friends was of utmost importance to him. He was always there in times of need and celebratory times, whether big or small. He will be missed.”
Fr. Levesque had a lifelong passion for the arts and music. A little-known fact about him was that, in 1969, he was one of the more than 400,000 people who made the trip to the hayfields near Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, NY, for what would become known as Woodstock.
He had just completed his first postordination assignment at St. John’s Preparatory School in Brooklyn when he received a last-minute invitation from a friend to attend “some concert in upstate New York.” “We had no idea of just how big of an event it was at the time,” he recalled years later. “We got off at the exit of the New York State Thruway and traffic slowed to a crawl, so we knew that this was more than just a concert.”
“He was kind—and always was,” recountedBrian Browne ’93C, ’97G, Associate Vice President of University Communications and Public Affairs. “I had the unique experience of having Fr. Levesque as a high school religion teacher and years later worked with him at St. John’s. He impacted so many people during a lifetime of service.”
Rev. Patrick S. L. Flanagan, C.M., Ph.D., Vice Chair, Board of Governors, and Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, recalled: “As a first-year student at Niagara University in 1983, Fr. Levesque hired me to be his student aide. I could never have imagined the incredible trajectory of life and love shared with my confrere over the subsequent decades. As my mentor and friend, I witnessed a true servant-leader whose priorities were never self-referential, but to serve others, particularly the more abandoned, and to strive for a just, common good.”
During his tenure at St. John’s, Fr. Levesque sat for a reflective interview for a publication of theRho Chi Beta Delta honor society in theCollege of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and expressed his thoughts on the importance of upholding the University’s Vincentianvalues in changing times:
“At the heart of being a Vincentian University is learning how important it is to serve others. Hopefully you will come out of St. John’s University and have a great career; hopefully you’ll have all your dreams fulfilled. Whatever those dreams are and whatever that goal is, we are helping you to accomplish them. I think people remember that St. John’s University is part of their roots, and they want to bring a part of the St. John’s Vincentian mission into their lives. I see a very strong spirit here of what it means to be Vincentian, and the St. John’s community knows that it encompasses being sensitive to others who don’t have what they have.”
As his one-year term was winding down, Fr. Levesque remarked at a June 2014 liturgy he celebrated: “I came to you last August as Joseph, your brother. Thank you for welcoming me as a brother and a colleague working with you for the good of the University.”
He added, “Thank you for being so faithfully Catholic and Vincentian, and dedicated to our ministry. Thank you for your respect, your love, and compassion. Thank you for your simplicity, your humility, your kindness, and your charity—all Vincentian values.”
Send expressions of sympathy to
St. John’s University
Office of the President
Newman Hall, Third Floor
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.
who died on June 23, 2024, at the age of 85.
May he rest in peace.
Viewing
Sunday, June 30
2 to 4 p.m.
7 to 9 p.m.
St. Catherine’s Assembly Room
500 East Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Funeral Mass
Monday, July 1
10:15 a.m.
Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
475 E. Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Interment
Monday, July 1
Princeton Abbey and Cemetery
Section: Congregation of the Mission
75 Mapleton Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
