McIntosh, Robert K.
Jesuit Father Robert K. McIntosh died on Nov. 24, 2018, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He was 78 years old. He is survived by nine siblings and many Jesuit friends.
Fr. McIntosh was born on July 11, 1940, in Milwaukee. He entered the Society of Jesus on September 3, 1959, at the Jesuit novitiate in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He was ordained on June 8, 1972, in Milwaukee. He took final vows on August 15, 1977, in Seoul, Korea. He transcribed to the Korean Province in 1986.
Note: The Society of Jesus in Korea was established in 1955 as a mission, or dependent region, of the US Wisconsin Province in response to a request from the Korean Church to support the spiritual formation of Korean youth. In 1960, the Jesuits opened Sogang College in Seoul, which became a university in 1970. Sogang University now has over 15,000 students. Korea became an Independent Region in 1985 and a Province in 2005.
After novitiate, Fr. McIntosh studied humanities at Saint Bonifacius Campus in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota (1961-1963). He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and letters (1965), a master’s degree in Latin language and literature (1966), and a master’s degree in moral and pastoral theology (1973) from St. Louis University. He also earned a licentiate degree in philosophy from St. Louis University (1968).
During regency, Fr. McIntosh studied Korean language and taught English at Sogang University (1966-1969). After ordination, he was a campus minister and professor of general education English at Sogang University (1973-1993).
While working at Sogang University, Fr. McIntosh also performed a great deal of internal governance for the Jesuits of the Korea Region. He was socius to the regional superior (1985-1986), assistant to the novice instructor (1986), and director of studies (1985-1989). During this time, he also was the associate director of the Jesuit Retreat House in Suwon, Korea (1987-1989).
In 1993, Fr. McIntosh left Sogang University to work full-time for the Society. He was the director of formation for the Korea Region (1993-1994), socius to the regional superior/provincial (1994-2009), superior of Arrupe Apostolic Jesuit Community in Seoul (1998-2006), province archivist (2009-2018), and tertian instructor (2017-2018).
Fr. McIntosh was a true missionary—always willing to go where needed and do what was necessary to help bring about the Kingdom of God! Fr. McIntosh was a very highly esteemed member of the Korean Province and will be sincerely mourned by his province.