Robert J. Welch, S.J.

Message from the President 
July 14, 2022

Dear LMU Community:

I am saddened to share that Robert J. Welch, S.J., an emeritus professor of political science and a member of the LMU Jesuit Community, passed away on July 10, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. He was 92 years old.

Father Welch was living in the Jesuit Community when he joined the LMU faculty in August 1970, and he was a tenured associate professor in the Political Science Department until his retirement in 2004. He continued to teach part time from 2005 until January 2020. Father Welch served as chair, helped build the department, and he was deeply committed to political theory classics. He believed that Marxism was an intellectual and political means for understanding the world and making it a better place. Generations of students enjoyed imitating his trademark flailing arms when he became excited during class lectures. Recognizing the flattery, Father Welch laughed more than anyone at these tributes.

Father Welch was also engaged and involved in the lives of his colleagues, officiating weddings, blessing homes, presiding at funerals, and celebrating baptisms. A former catcher for the Loyola High School team, Father Welch loved baseball. He could often be seen at Page Stadium keeping score in his own book at most games and occasionally yelling at umpires. When he retired, he threw out the opening pitch at an LMU game.

Father Welch joined the Society of Jesus in 1947, was ordained in 1960, and made his final vows in 1963. He earned his Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate School, his M.A. in theology at Santa Clara University, his M.A. in political science at University of San Francisco, and his B.A. at Gonzaga University.

Please keep Bob, his family, his many former students, and his friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.
President