[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: June 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO FATHER JAMES M. DEMSKE OF CANISIUS COLLEGE
______
HON. JOHN J. LaFALCE
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 16, 1994
Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, as a graduate of Canisius College, in
Buffalo, NY, and now as a member of its board of trustees, I am very
proud of this Jesuit institution and appreciative of the positive
contribution it has made to the lives of so many, including mine, in
western New York. But I am particularly proud to have known and been
associated with the Rev. James M. Demske, S.J., the dynamic and
dedicated man who served as Canisius' president for 27 years and guided
it through a period of tremendous growth, not only in its physical size
but in its impact on the community.
Father Demske died Wednesday evening and the city of Buffalo has lost
one of its favorite, most productive native sons. He was an exceptional
person, with tremendous energy, a winning personality and a smile that
just wouldn't quit.
When Father Demske retired as president last year, I suggested
historians may come to call his administration the ``Demske Dynasty,''
during which the college's student body, academic program, physical
plant, community outreach and reputation for excellence expanded
dramatically. In the process, Father Demske became an institution
within the institution and a household name throughout western New
York.
The Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., who succeeded Father Demske as
president, said: ``Father Demske's death is a tremendous loss to
Canisius College and to his many friends in the Canisius College
family. Father Demske transformed Canisius from a small liberal arts
college into a major comprehensive university.
``As chancellor, he played a major role in our fundraising efforts
and in the planning of Canisius' 125th anniversary next year. He was a
holy man, a distinguished educator and a dear personal friend. Canisius
will miss his wise and gentle presence greatly.''
Robert M. Greene, chairman of the college's board of trustees, said:
``Father Demske was always fond of saying Canisius College was a
family, and at a time like this, I realize how right he was. He was the
head of the Canisius family for 27 years, and like a good parent he
always provided both love and leadership. Like any family member who
loses a parent, now that he's gone, you begin to recall many fond
memories of Father Demske playing trombone at weddings, participating
in family celebrations and being there for all of us during sad times
as well. The best thing I can say about Father Demske is that he was
both parent and priest. We will miss him immensely.''
In summary, Father Demske was a very good man who helped make many
lives much better.
I would like to share with my colleagues the page one article that
appeared in today's Buffalo News, detailing Father Demske's career, and
the statement Canisius College issued.
Rev. Demske Dies After Long Illness--Led Canisius College for Nearly 3
Decades
(By Karen Brady)
The man whose name and face became synonymous with Canisius
College, the Very Rev. James M. Demske, is dead
He died Wednesday night (June 15, 1994) in Sisters
Hospital, where he had been a patient since Monday. President
of the college for 27 years when he was elevated to the post
of chancellor in July 1993, Father Demske, 72, had suffered
from chronic leukemia since May 1992. He had led Canisius,
his alma matter, longer than any college president in New
York and had been a Jesuit priest since 1957.
Since assuming the newly created post of chancellor of the
college, he had concentrated on relations with alumni and
friends in the community, continued to help to raise funds
for the college and assisted with plans for its 125th
anniversary in 1995.
At the time of his death, he was working on a book,
``Ireland, O, Ireland! Tales of the Great Gaeks,'' a
collection of vignettes from his travels in Ireland over the
years, to be published by the Western New York Heritage
Institute. Father Demske had returned to the classroom last
spring to teach a philosophy seminar at the college.
``Father Demske's death is a tremendous loss to Canisius
College and to his many friends in the Canisius College
family,'' said the Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, president of the
college. ``Father Demske transformed Canisius from a small
liberal arts college into a major comprehensive university.''
A tall, unassuming man with a gentle manner and quick
smile, Father Demske was a diplomat and a scholar as well as
an administrator. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II,
and the author of several books on philosophy and theology.
Father Demske, considered a Jack Klugman look-alike, also
played the trombone--and bore the nickname ``Slush Pump''
because of it, from his high school days into his eighth
decade.
He even played the horn at his own presidential
inauguration the weekend of Oct. 21, 1966--and sang as well
at such events as Buffalo Night in Florida.
As the 22d president of Canisius College, Father Demske saw
the endowment fund soar from slightly over $1 million in June
of 1966 to more than $27 million today. Enrollment also rose
dramatically during his tenure as president--from 2,937
students in the fall of 1966 to nearly 5,000 in the fall of
1992.
Father Demske presided over the construction of such major
facilities and buildings as the college's Churchill Academic
Tower. Koessler Athletic Center, Health Science Center, Bosch
Hall and Residents' Dining Hall, as well as an $8 million
addition to the Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library.
The college's $5 million athletic field, the Demske Sports
Complex, was completed in 1989--and bears Father Demske's
name.
In addition to major renovation of old buildings, Father
Demske also oversaw the purchase of the old Mount St. Joseph
building at 1908 Main Street, the construction of 30 units of
student housing at Main and Humboldt Parkway and the
acquisition of several area residences now used as student
housing.
The Canisius curriculum, which stressed liberal arts when
Father Demske came to the college, became heavy in business
offerings during his presidency. A master's program in
business with several areas of concentration was added, and
the college's Institute for Management Development was
established.
Other academic strides during Father Demske's tenure
included courses in computer science, management information
systems and educational computing.
For nearly three decades, Father Demske also held lion's
stature within Western New York's secular community--
belonging to, supporting and taking part in countless civic
and social organizations, causes and events.
A native of Buffalo, he attended St. James Catholic School
and was a 1939 graduate of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute,
where as a senior, he scored 100 per cent on the Latin
Regents examination. For the next three years, he was
enrolled at Canisius College.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1942, and saw service during
World War II in Africa and Italy before his discharge, as a
captain, in 1946. He then returned to Canisius, graduating
summa cum laude from the college in June of 1947.
The next month, he entered the Society of Jesus at Andrew-
on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie. In 1951, he received a licentiate
degree in philosophy from Woodstock College in Maryland, then
taught philosophy for three years at St. Peter's College in
Jersey City.
His studies also included four years of theology at the
University of Innsbruck in Austria, as well as three years of
philosophical studies at the University of Freiburg in
Breisgau, Germany.
Father Demske was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1957, and
received a licentiate in sacred theology at Innsbruck in
1958. He completed work for his doctorate at Freiburg in
1962, then was made master of novices and director of Jesuit
seminarians at Bellarmine College in Plattsburg.
When he returned to his alma mater, Canisius College, as
its president in 1966, he became the third Buffalonian to
head Buffalo's Jesuit college, still the largest private
institution in Erie County.
He presided over the college's centennial in the 1969-70
academic year, an event that marked the college's evolution
from a sectarian to a predominantly lay institution with a
broad-based, ecumenical curriculum.
Father Demske, who said Mass daily, was known for spending
private time with the ill, and with grieving families. Also
known for his humor, he was never above a chuckle at his own
expense.
In 1991, when he observed his 25th year as Canisius'
president, he took a Buffalo News reporter to a hallway at
the college ``flanked with presidential portraits.''
``I'll hang here someday after I'm gone,'' he said,
``unless we change the custom and hang me ahead.''
Father Demske was a golfer whose partner on the links, NOCO
Energy Corp. president Reginald B. Newman II told The News
that it once took 25 minutes to walk from the locker room at
a private club to their table at the club's restaurant
because Father Demske stopped to talk at almost every table
along the way.
More than 500 persons turned out for the college's 1991
Regents Ball--honoring Father Demske's then-quarter century
as president.
More than 1,000 attended a special Mass of Thanksgiving and
farewell breakfast for Father Demske in June 1993 as he ended
27 years as Canisius president.
The man and the priest was also honored by countless
organizations and groups, among them the National Conference
of Christians and Jews which gave him a Brotherhood Award in
1973 and a Citation Award in 1988.
The Buffalo News made him a Citizen of the Year in 1971.
Father Demske held honorary doctorates, from both Canisius
and D'Youville Colleges.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m.
Monday in St. Michael's Catholic Church, 651 Washington St.
Burial will be in Martyrs Shrine, Auriesville.
____
Rev. James M. Demske, S.J., Chancellor of Canisius College, Dies
Buffalo, NY.--Rev. James M. Demske, chancellor and former
president of Canisius College, died tonight at Sister's
Hospital (Buffalo, NY) following a brief illness. He was 72
years old.
``Father Demske's death is a tremendous loss to Canisius
College and to his many friends in the Canisius College
family,'' said Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., president of
Canisius College. ``Father Demske transformed Canisius from a
small liberal arts college into a major comprehensive
university. As chancellor, he played a major role in our
fundraising efforts and in the planning of Canisius' 125th
anniversary next year. He was a holy man, a distinguished
educator and a dear personal friend. Canisius College will
miss his wise and gentle presence greatly.''
Father Demske, who retired as president of Canisius College
in June of 1993 after nearly 27 years in that post, was
diagnosed with chronic leukemia in May of 1992. At the time
of his retirement as president, Father Demske had earned the
distinction of being the longest-tenured college or
university president in New York State and one of the
longest-tenured in the nation.
As chancellor, Father Demske continued his efforts to
develop strong and meaningful relationships with alumni and
friends of the college, and worked to develop the needed
resources for the college's long-range projects.
``Father Demske was always fond of saying Canisius College
was a family, and at a time like this, I realize how right he
was,'' said Robert M. Greene, chairman of the board of
trustees at Canisius College. ``He was the head of the
Canisius family for 27 years, and like a good parent he
always provided both love and friendship. Like any family who
loses a parent, now that he's gone, you begin to recall many
fond memories of Father Demske playing trombone at weddings,
participating in family celebrations and being there for all
of us during sad times as well. The best thing I can say
about Father Demske is that he was both parent and priest.
We will miss him immensely.''
A Buffalo native, Father Demske was a graduate of St.
Joseph's Collegiate Institute (Buffalo, NY) and Canisius
College. His education at Canisius was interrupted when he
left school to serve overseas in the military during World
War II. He returned after the war and completed his bachelor
of arts degree in 1947, the same year he entered the Society
of Jesus. He earned a licentiate in philosophy from Woodstock
College (Woodstock, MD) in 1951; a licentiate in theology
from the University of Innsbruck (Austria) in 1958; and a
doctorate from the University of Freiburg (Breisgau, West
Germany) in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in
Innsbruck in 1957.
After teaching philosophy at St. Peter's College in New
Jersey from 1951-54, Father Demske studied in Austria and
Germany for seven years. In 1963, he was named director of
the Jesuit seminarians at Bellarmine College (Plattsburgh,
New York). He returned to his hometown and alma mater in 1966
to serve as president and rector of Canisius College.
During his years as president of Canisius College, his
steady guidance proved critical to the college's growth and
vitality. New academic programs strengthened the curriculum.
Physical plant changes were most dramatic. Bouwhuis Library
tripled in size thanks to an $8 million renovation. In the
summer of 1989, a $4.5 million state-of-the-art outdoor
athletic complex was completed. The long-awaited ``home
field'' was named in honor of Father Demske in tribute to his
tireless efforts on behalf of Canisius College. Eight new
buildings, including two student housing complexes, were
added to the campus to keep pace with the college's growing
student enrollment, which realized a 70 percent increase in
undergraduate and graduate students combined. Also under
Father Demske's leadership, the college's endowment fund grew
from $1 million in 1965 to over $27 million at the time of
his retirement as president in 1993.
Known for his scholarship as well as his leadership, Father
Demske was a noted author, having published three books and
numerous articles on a wide variety of topics ranging from
metaphysics to a history of Canisius College. At the time of
his death, Father Demske was in the process of publishing a
book through the Western New York Heritage Institute entitled
Ireland, O Ireland! Tales of the Great Gaels, a collection
of vignettes from Father Demske's travels in Ireland. He
also had recently returned to the classroom, teaching a
philosophy seminar last semester to juniors and seniors.
Father Demske's contributions to the larger society have
also been well recognized. He has held key leadership
positions with numerous Western New York organizations
including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Buffalo
Fine Arts Academy, Buffalo Urban League, Hospice Buffalo, and
Western New York Public Broadcasting Association. His
guidance helped strengthen the Western New York area
culturally and provided a broad vision for its future.
Among his many honors, Father Demske was named Outstanding
Citizen of the Year by The Buffalo Evening News and
Goodfellow of the Year by the Courier-Express in 1971. The
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce recognized him as Western
New Yorker of the Year in 1986 on the occasion of his 20th
anniversary as Canisius' president. He received the St.
Joseph's Collegiate Institute Signum Fidei Award as an
exceptional graduate. He also was a Distinguished Alumnus of
Canisius, and in March of this year was named the 1994
recipient of the Canisius College Board of Regent
Distinguished Citizen Award.
Well known for his avocation as a trombonist, Father Demske
often performed at college functions and was a member of the
Buffalo Jazz Association and the American Federation of
Musicians.
Father Demske is survived by a sister-in-law, Mrs. Richard
(Arlene) Demske, several cousins, nieces, nephews and
grandnieces, and a grandnephew. He was the son of the late
Albert J. and Augusta (Nagel) Demske and brother of the late
Richard Demske.
Father Demske will be waked at Christ the King Chapel on
the Canisius College campus on Saturday from 7-9 pm., Sunday
from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm; and Monday from 2-4 pm. A Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael's Church
(Washington Street, Buffalo) at 7:30 pm on Monday. Private
interment will be at the Martyrs Shrine (Auriesville, New
York). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Father
Demske's name to the Loyola Scholarship Fund at Canisius
College.
____________________