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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 University Board 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 the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, and President of two Catholic Vincentian universities,” stated Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M., who in 2013 was Vice Chairman of the St. John’s Board of Trustees and Provincial of the Eastern 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 and at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Princeton 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 D.C., 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 until he returned to seminary work in 1986 as president of St Joseph's Seminary.

Fr.Levesque was later elected Provincial Superiorof theeasternProvinceoftheCongregationoftheMissionin1990.HesteppeddownfromthepositioninJuneof1999afterthemaximumnine-yearterm,and,in2000hewasthe25thpresidentofNiagaraUniversity.HeservedasNiagaraUniversity'spresidentfor13years(2000-13),makinghimthefourthlongest-tenuredpresidentinthehistoryoftheCatholicandVincentianinstitution.UnderFr.Levesquesleadership,NaiagraUniversityexperiencedacontinuousprocessoftransformationthatdevelopedthephysicalcharacteroftheuniversity'scampusandits21st-centuryapproachtoteachingandlearning.InJuneof2013,NaiagraUniversity'sInstituteforCivicEngagementwasrenamedtheRev.JosephL.Levesque,C.M.,InstituteforCivicEngagementtohonorthelong-tenuredpresidentandhiscommitmenttothecommunity."Fr.Levequeswasoneofthemostinfluentialleadersinourprovince'shistory,"observedRev.AidanR.Rooney,C.M.,ExecutiveVicePresidentforMission."Hisleadershipfocusedourprovince'scommitmenttotheeconomicallypoormoredeeplythaneverbefore.HispersonalandprofessionalcommitmenttoVincentianhighereducationispartofthestoryofbothSt.John'sUniversityandNaiagraUniversity.OurcontinuingCatholicandVincentianidentityowesmuchtothechoiceshemadeinseeingtothepreparationandassignmentofkeyVincentianstobothuniversities."Rev.BernardM.Tracey,C.M.VincentianSuperior,NaiagraUniversity,a longtimefriendofFr.Levequeshared:"InadditiontoallthatFr.Levequesaccomplished,hisloveforfamilyandfriendswasutmostimportance."Hehadalifelongpassionfortheartsandmusic.Alittle-knownfactabouthimwasthat,in1969hewasoneofthemorethan400000peoplewhomadethetriptohayfieldsnearMaxYasgur'dairyfarminBethelNYfortherenownedWoodstockfestival."

"BrianBrowne'93C,'97GAssociateVicePresidentCommunicationsPublicAffairsrecalled"IhadhavingFLevequasahighschoolreligionteacherlaterworkedwithhimStJohnsheimpactedso manypeopleduringlifetime."

Rev.PatrickS.L.Flanagan,C.M.Ph.D.ViceChairBoardGovernorsChairAssociateProfessorDepartmentTheologyReligiousStudiesrecalled:"Asfirst-yearstudentatNiagaraUniversity1983FrLevequhiredmetohisstudentaideIcouldneverhaveimaginedthetrajectorylife."

DuringhistentureatSt.JohnsFrLevequesatreflectiveinterviewpublicationRhoChiBetaDeltahonorsocietyCollegePharmacyHealthSciencesexpressedthoughtsimportanceupholdingUniversitysvalueschangingtimes:"AtheartbeingVincentianlearninghowimportantserveothersHopefullyyoucomeoutStJohnshavegreatcareerhopefullyyou'llhaveallyourdreamsfulfilledWhateverthosearewehelpingaccomplishthem.IthinkpeoplerememberStJohnsisparttheirrootswantbringapartVincentianmissionintotheirlives.IseestrongspiritmeanstoVincentiantheyknowencompassingsensitivetoothersdon'thavetheysaid"

Ashisone-yeartermwindingdownremarkedJune2014liturgycelebrated:"IcameAugustJosephyourbrotherThankwelcomingbrothercolleagueworkinggood"

Headded"ThankfaithfullyCatholicdedicatedministryrespectlovecompassionkindnesscharityallvalues"

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St.John'sOfficePresidentNewmanHallThirdFloor8000UtopiaParkwayQueensNY11439Funeralarrangementsfollows:

+RevJosephLLevequCM+diedage85restpeace

ViewingSundayJune302to4p.m7to9p.m.St.CatherineAssemblyRoom500EastCheltenAvenuePhiladelphiaPA19144FuneralMassMondayJuly110:15a.m.BasilicaShrineOurLadyMiraculousMedal475E.CheltenAvenuePhiladelphiaPA19144IntermentMondayJuly1PrincetonAbbeyCemeterySection:CongregationMission75MapletonRoadPrincetonNJ08540