Fr. Nicholas S. Rashford, SJ, was born on February 3, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois. After serving in the Navy, he entered the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1964, at the Saint Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri. He was ordained a priest on May 22, 1971, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.
Fr. Rashford’s formation was marked by a deep commitment to both spiritual and intellectual growth. He studied at several institutions, earning numerous degrees, including a B.S. in Sociology/Philosophy and an M.S. in Urban Affairs/Theology from Saint Louis University. He went on to receive an S.M. in Management Science from MIT and a Sc.D. in Behavioral Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Fr. Rashford’s ministry reflected a lifelong devotion to the service of others through education and leadership. He began his apostolic work consulting in church management for the Stanwick Corporation in Washington, DC, and served briefly with the Archdiocese of Boston. He then transitioned into higher education, where he would spend the majority of his life, forming countless students and faculty members in Jesuit values and academic rigor.
At Johns Hopkins University, he served as Associate Dean of Management Resources before joining the faculty at Loyola College in Maryland as an Associate Professor of Management. He later taught Economics and Business at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, where he also served as Dean of the Commerce and Finance School.
In 1986, Fr. Rashford began what would become a decades-long association with Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He served as president from 1986 to 2003, leaving a lasting legacy of institutional growth and mission-centered leadership. It was during this time that he transcribed from the Missouri Province to the Maryland Province Jesuits. Even while president at Saint Joseph’s University, he also served as a professor of both Commerce and Management. After stepping down as president, he spent a year as a visiting professor at Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile. He then returned to Saint Joseph’s University and served another 16 years as a professor of Management.
In 2021, Fr. Rashford moved to the Loyola Center Jesuit Community in Philadelphia, where he spent his final years in prayer and reflection, continuing to support the mission of the Society through his presence and wisdom. He died on July 14, 2025, at the Manresa Hall Jesuit health center.
Fr. Rashford was known for his gentle leadership, academic excellence, and deep pastoral care. He leaves behind a rich legacy of Jesuit education and a life lived for the greater glory of God.
Click here to light a Virtual Candle in memoriam of the life and legacy of Fr. Nicholas Rashford, SJ.
