Joseph Healy

The Loyola community is saddened by the loss of Joseph M. Healy, longtime administrator and faculty member of Loyola College in Maryland. Healy, who served most recently as associate director of the office of international programs, was instrumental in developing the university’s study abroad program. He died Aug. 13.

Healy started working at Loyola in 1978 as director of institutional research and assistant to the academic vice president. In more than 30 years at Loyola, Healy filled leadership roles in international programs and advising, also serving as associate academic dean and associate dean of undergraduate studies. He taught both theology and philosophy.

“Throughout his career at Loyola, Joe continued exploring new ways to better serve our students in Baltimore and on almost every continent,” said Andre Colombat, dean of international programs. “He always made sure we provided our students with top-quality education, included more service opportunities, sent students to less-travelled destinations and maintained the quality of our programs abroad. Because of his passion for higher education and international programs, Joe excelled at giving presentations to varied and numerous audiences. He was a most knowledgeable, humorous, and captivating speaker. Thanks to his warm and gentle personality, he built a large network of business partners, supporters, and friends for Loyola around the world. Joe was a preeminent, most-dedicated, and much-loved member of the Loyola community.”

Born in 1933 in Jersey City, N.J., to Alice (Bowne) and Joseph Bernard Healy, Healy attended St. Aloysius Elementary in Jersey City and graduated in 1951 from St. Peter's Preparatory. After earning a marketing degree from St. Peter's College in Jersey City in 1955, Healy entered the Jesuit novitiate at Bellarmine College, Plattsburgh, N.Y. He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1967.

Healy earned a Ph.L. in philosophy and an M.A. in sociology from Fordham University, an M.A. in theology from Woodstock College, and studied classical languages, literature, and history at Bellarmine University and modern languages at Johns Hopkins University. His international travel included teaching in the Philippines, where he conducted research for the Peace Corps, and a sabbatical in Asia, Africa, and Europe. He left the priesthood in 1971 and married the former Melody Gordon in 1972.

Before coming to Loyola, Healy taught at Bay College of Maryland, served as a member of the Jesuit Study Committee, worked as a community organizer in the city's Reservoir Hill neighborhood, co-founded the Ralph Young Boys School, and served on the Board of Directors for Joseph House.

Healy is survived by his wife; his children, Candra Healy, ’80, M.A. ’09, Michelle Healy Smoot, and Steven Healy; and four grandchildren.

The Loyola community will celebrate Healy’s life at a memorial Mass in the Alumni Memorial Chapel at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18.