George Harold Dunne

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George Harold Dunne (March 11, 1905 – June 30, 1998) was an American theologian and Jesuit priest.

Life

He was born on March 11, 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States.[1] His relatives were the writers John Gregory Dunne and Dominick Dunne.[1]

In the later stages of his life, he lived among the Jesuit community at Loyola Marymount University.[2] He died on June 30, 1998 in Los Gatos, California, outside San Jose in California, United States.[3][4]

He never married. He was survived by his six nieces and two nephews.[4]

Education

Dunne was a student of Chinese theology and language.[4] He attended law school at Loyola Marymount University, from where he graduated in 1926.[1]

He completed his master's degree from Gonzaga University in 1932.[2] He received a doctorate in international relations in 1944 from the University of Chicago.[4]

Career

Dunne's first academic position was at the University of St. Louis, but his criticism of the policies of racial segregation at the university resulted in his dismissal.[2] He then transferred to Loyola University in Los Angeles, where he was dismissed again, this time because of his support of a strike of the stage employees' union.[2] He eventually served at Georgetown University and became the director of the university's program at Fribourg, Switzerland.[2]

He retired from his teaching career in 1985.[2] He was a longtime contributor to America, a Jesuit review magazine.[3]

Legacy

He was an outspoken critic of racial segregation in the United States way back in the 1940s when most of mainstream America was in favor of racial segregation. His belief in racial equality led him to be the first director of the ecumenical Committee on Society, Development, and Peace.

He is also remembered today for his book Generation of Giants: The Story of the Jesuits in China in Ming Dynasty, which recounted the story of early Jesuit missions in China to a wider audience.

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]Keane, James T. (January 9, 2024). "Jesuit George Dunne loved a good fight—and hated injustice".
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3][2.4][2.5][2.6]"George H. Dunne, S.J., Collection of Articles and Pamphlets, 1945-1994 - OAC". oac.cdlib.org.
  3. 3.[3.2]"George H. Dunne, S.J." October 12, 2017.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3][4.4]Pace, Eric (July 14, 1998). "George Dunne, 92, Priest and Ecumenist, Dies" – via NYTimes.com.