Event honors life, work of Fr. Jerry Cavanagh, S.J.

Event honors life, work of Fr. Jerry Cavanagh, S.J.

More than 150 people came together on June 3 to celebrate the life of Professor Emeritus Fr. Gerald Cavanagh, S.J.

Alumni, faculty, staff and family members came together at what was originally planned to be a retirement party for Fr. Cavanagh, but changed into a celebration of his life after he passed away last November.

The event included Mass at St. Ignatius Chapel on the McNichols Campus and a dinner and silent auction. Items included collections of Cavanagh’s seminal works in business ethics and other prizes donated by supporters and alumni.

A new book, Business Ethics and Social Responsibility: Essential Works of Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J. was published in conjunction with the event.

Attendees watched video montages of Fr. Cavanagh and listened to remembrances by friends, colleagues and family members. Guests received commemorative medallions with Fr. Cavanagh’s likeness designed by Marie Henderson, RSM.

Proceeds from the event will support the new Cavanagh Fund for Ethical Solutions to Social Problems.

Full photo gallery.

At left, a small medallion featuring Fr. Gerald Cavangh's likeness on it sits in a case, with a program underneath, reading Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J., 1931-2022. The medallion reads, Fr. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J., Fisher Chair of Business Ethics. On the right, five people smile as they sit indoors around a table.

Three students stand inside of the Student Fitness Center, one at a podium, at left. At right, dozens of people sit around tables inside.

Three Detroit Mercy leaders sit at a table indoors and watch a video, at left. At the right, a man speaks from a podium with a red University of Detroit Mercy banner on it.