Rev. William J. Bosch, SJ, was born on September 28, 1928, in Milwaukee, WI. He attended both Marquette University High School, Milwaukee, WI and Canisius High School, Buffalo, NY, and graduated from Aquinas Institute, Rochester, NY in 1946. At the end of his freshman year at Fordham University, Bronx, NY, he entered the Society of Jesus on September 7, 1947. His Jesuit course of studies in preparation for ordination to the priesthood were at St. Andrew on Hudson Novitiate and Juniorate, Poughkeepsie, NY, West Baden College, West Baden Springs, IN, and Woodstock College, Woodstock, MD. Fr. Bosch was ordained as priest June 18, 1960, at Fordham University Church, Bronx, NY. He pursued graduate studies in American History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in 1966.
Fr. Bosch joined the faculty of Le Moyne College in 1966, and retired from the faculty as Professor of History in 2004, and afterward served as College Archivist until 2022. His book, Judgement on Nuremburg: American Attitudes toward the Major War Crimes Trials, published by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Press in 1966, with a second edition being reissued by U.N.C. Press in 2011, continues to be a highly respected resource in studies of the Nuremburg Trials. From 1966 to 1996, Fr. Bosch served as the moderator of International House, a student organization, community, and campus center for reflection, study and service. Its members regularly gathered to promote social justice and peace-making through accompaniment and engagement with people and communities in need, locally and nationally. The IH community provided a prophetic witness to the importance of creating a more just society and culture, respecting and taking action to foster peace, locally, nationwide and internationally.
Fr. Bosch, called “Padre” by IH members, challenged and inspired members and the Le Moyne campus community to embrace core Christian values of social justice and the promotion of peace. Under his guidance, International House became not only a place to gather but even more a way of living for its members. IH became a catalyst within the college community encouraging others to live boldly the core value of service to others, via faith, using tools of study and reflection leading to promotion of the dignity of every human person. In 2016, Le Moyne College created the William J. Bosch, S.J. Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize the accomplishments and transformative contributions of an exceptional individual over their years of college service, with Fr. Bosch himself being the first recipient.
Walking by Le Moyne’s Jesuit residence on a summer afternoon, Fr. Bosch could be seen carefully tending to the flowers growing in its garden. He has been even more attentive in growing young minds and hearts. Fr. Bosch modeled for them the Jesuit ideal of magis. He provided them with a place to work hard, laugh heartily and focus their energies on serving others. He volunteered at a soup kitchen in Philadelphia, traveled to Seneca Falls, NY, to protest the use of nuclear weapons, and ministered to inmates at Syracuse’s Justice Center. Most important, Fr. Bosch has been a joyful servant of Christ. With his outstanding intellect and giant heart, he has been a guide and protector. Many former members of IH remember him holding high the traditional “Jesus bread” while celebrating Mass for the community.
Fr. Bosch will be missed. He died suddenly on August 26, 2023, at the age of 94.