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Fr. John W. Witek, SJ, internationally renowned scholar of East Asian history, died on January 31, 2010, at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, District of Columbia. He was 76 years old. Fr. Witek was born on September 13, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, to John A. and Antoinette Witek. He attended grade school at Sacred Heart on Huron Street in Chicago. In 1951 Fr. Witek graduated from St. Ignatius High School (present day Saint Ignatius College Prep) and went on to undergraduate studies at Loyola University Chicago. He entered the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1952, at the Novitiate in Milford, Ohio. Fr. Witek earned an M.A. in East Asian History from Loyola University Chicago in 1964, embarking on a subject that he studied for the rest of his life. “Though he didn’t start studying China until a later stage in life; Fr. Witek recognized that China was going to be very important,” recalls Fr. Robert Bireley, SJ, who was a year ahead of Fr. Witek in their Jesuit formation. “Fr. Witek was an outstanding scholar of Chinese history and the role of Jesuits in China. He was unusually diligent, a very hard worker, but very good humored. Fr. Witek was also very generous working with other scholars. He always shared what he knew such as tips about what archives and books to look into and so on.” Fr. Witek was ordained on June 10, 1965, at St. Joseph Church in Aurora, Illinois. He earned his Ph.D. from Georgetown University in 1973. Later that year he went on to Xavier University to teach in the department of History and Political Sciences as an Assistant Professor. In 1975 he returned to Georgetown University, where he taught in the department of history until his death. Over the course of his career, Fr. Witek authored and edited many important books and articles about the history of East Asia. Some of his most notable titles include the following: Controversial Ideas in China and in Europe: A Biography of Jean-François Foucquet, SJ, 1665-1741, published in 1982; Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-1688): Jesuit Missionary, Scientist, Engineer and Diplomat, published in 1994; Religion and Culture: An International Symposium Commemorating the Fourth Centenary of the University College of St. Paul, published in 1999; Dicionário Português-Chinês: Portuguese-Chinese Dictionary, published in 2001; and Monumenta Sinica: Volume I (1546-1562), published in 2002.A Memorial Liturgy will be held in Chicago at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 7, 2010, in the fifth floor Chapel of Saint Ignatius College Prep, Rev. Witek's alma mater (1076 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL). Call 773-975-8181 for more information. Memorial gifts may be made to the Jesuit Partnership or the Jesuit International Missions by writing or calling:
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Fr. Ernest G. Spittler, SJ, died at the age of 81. A Jesuit for 63 year and native Clevelander, Fr. Spittler was born to Dr. Felix and Genevieve Spittler on May 4, 1928. He attended St. Therese Elementary School and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. After high school, Fr. Spittler entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Milford, Ohio, in June 1946. He completed philosophical studies at West Baden College in Indiana, and went on to complete graduate studies in chemistry at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., His major ministry occurred from 1965 through 1993, when he taught Chemistry at John Carroll University. In his final years he became involved in Marriage Encounter which he continued through 2001. For many of these later years, he was also pastorally active in the Cleveland diocese. Some seven years ago, because of health, he retired to Jennings Center for Older Adults in Garfield Heights, where as a grade-school student, he had often served Mass. He enjoyed classical music, and during his years at Jennings Center shared this passion with other residents, and was a companion to many. “I was honored to meet and know Fr. Ernie,” recalls Ceil Sledz-Greenwell of North Royalton, Ohio. “His quiet, humble exterior belied the wit and knowledge within the truly holy man he was when you spoke with him. I am blessed to have known him. He will be missed by more people than anyone can even imagine.” Memorial gifts may be made to the Jesuit Partnership or the Jesuit International Missions by writing or calling:
To
make an online donation, click here.
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