Rev. Andrew Francis Maginnis, S.J., 89, died Sunday morning, March 17, 2013 in Regis Infirmary, Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos. He had been a Jesuit for 73 years, an ordained priest for 50.
Andy was born in San Francisco on June 4, 1923, the son of Charles A. and Minnie Carroll Maginnis. His father’s family had come West in the silver-rush. (His great uncle, Father John Maginnis, was first pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, San Francisco, until his death in 1864.) His mother was Irish-born and had the good fortune to trade in her ticket on the Lusitania, taking a later ship to the U.S.
Andy’s early education was at St. Patrick’s School, where another relative, Sister Mary Alice Maginnis, of the Daughters of Charity, had taught for 60 years. He attended St. Ignatius College Prep, became acquainted with the Jesuits, and discerned the beginnings of a religious vocation. He graduated in 1939 and a month and a half after his 16th birthday entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Los Gatos. He made philosophical studies at St. Louis University, taught math at Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, 1946-1949, and studied theology at Alma College, Los Gatos, 1949-1953. He was ordained a priest in St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco, by Archbishop John J. Mitty on June 12, 1952.
His first assignment after studies was back to Alma College, where he served as house administrator for the large Jesuit community, 1954-1957. He then served in the same capacity at Loyola University, Los Angeles, 1957-1959.
On July 1, 1959 he was appointed Executive Assistant (“Socius”) to the Provincial of the California Province, and served under four provincial administrations until May 1968.
Andy served as Director of Financial Aid at the University of San Francisco, 1968-1969, then worked as a counselor and retreat director for religious women in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and beyond. The “refreshing approach and practical applications” of his retreat conferences were greatly appreciated. In 1974 he was named Vicar for Religious by Archbishop Joseph McGucken and served in that capacity under succeeding Archbishops until 2004.
In 1991 he took up the post of Director of the Jesuit Seminary Association, which raised funds to support both the training of the young Jesuits and the care of the retired and infirm. He stepped down from this post at the end of 2003. His last years were spent in the St. Ignatius College Preparatory community and, since 2010, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, where he worked in the Office of Advancement as Director of Benefactor Relations.
Andy was known for his organizational skills, his attention to detail, and his deep spirituality. He had a lively sense of humor and delighted to enhance his personal correspondence with appropriate cartoons and headlines cut from the newspaper.
He is survived by a brother, C. Leo Maginnis, of San Rafael, and adopted sister, Sister Marilyn Murphy, SNJM, of Los Gatos, and a niece, Tara Maginnis of San Rafael.
Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2013 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, 300 College Avenue, Los Gatos 9530 with inurnment immediately afterward at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara 95050. Donations in memory of Father Maginnis may be made to the California Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 68, Los Gatos, CA 95031, or to a charity of your choice.
