Olivier, Harry T. (Father)

Jesuit Father Harry T. Olivier died on March 17, 2015, in Arizona Heart Hospital in Phoenix. He was 88 and had been a Jesuit for 70 years.

Fr. Olivier was born in San Francisco on Sept. 5, 1926. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1944 and entered the Jesuit novitiate at Los Gatos on August 14 of that year. His studies were made at Los Gatos (1944-48) and at Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane, Washington (1948-51). He taught Latin and religion at St. Ignatius High School (1951-53) and was a lecturer in English at the University of San Francisco (1953-54). Theological studies were made at Alma College in Los Gatos (1954-58), and he was ordained a priest in San Francisco on June 15, 1957.

Although Fr. Olivier returned to the high school classroom for brief periods at St. Ignatius College Prep (1959-60 and 1985-87), his primary work was in administration of Jesuit institutions. From 1960 to 1966 he served as assistant to the master of novices at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Los Gatos. When the collegiate studies program was relocated to Loyola University in 1966, Fr. Olivier was named superior of the Jesuits-in-training.

In 1972 he assumed the position of minister, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the large Jesuit community of Loyola Marymount. In 1981 he was named executive assistant to the provincial of the California Province, serving until 1985. From 1987 until his death, Fr. Olivier was stationed at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix as rector (1987-92) and as minister of the community since 1993. He also taught religion and faithfully attended student events and athletics events during those years.

He is survived by a brother, Albert, of Novato, Calif.