Fr. Donald B. Sharp, SJ, former professor of Scripture at Gonzaga University, the University of San Francisco, and St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California, died March 4, 2026, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. He was 85 years old. In addition to his academic career, in his later years he served as a parish priest and as a high school chaplain.
Donald Bruce Sharp was born in Spokane, Washington, on July 21, 1940, the son of Malcolm Sharp, Sr., a public school teacher, and Elizabeth McDonald Sharp, also a teacher. Growing up, he was active in Boy Scouts and often worked on his grandfather’s farm, driving the tractor and assisting at chores. He attended Gonzaga Prep, and, after graduating in 1958, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Sheridan, Oregon, for studies leading to the priesthood. Returning to Spokane, WA, as a Jesuit scholastic, he earned a bachelor’s degree (1964) and Licentiate in Philosophy (1965) from Gonzaga University.
He taught Greek, Latin and French at Seattle Prep (1965-1968) and studied theology at Regis College in Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity in 1971. On June 12, 1971, he was ordained a priest at St. Aloysius Church in Spokane, WA.
Fr. Sharp did graduate studies in Scripture at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, earning a Ph.D. in Old Testament studies in 1975. He then began a long career, primarily teaching Scripture, at Gonzaga University (1975-1993). He spent one academic year (1978-79) teaching at Gonzaga’s program in Florence, Italy. He later taught Scripture at the University of San Francisco (1993-1999).
After leaving USF, he took up residence at the nearby Jesuit parish of St. Agnes, teaching at the School of Pastoral Leadership of the Archdiocese of San Francisco (1999-2005) and also at the archdiocese’s major seminary, St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California (2001-2009).
Fr. Sharp then served as senior priest at St. Agnes Parish (2009-2012). He next moved to St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco as pastoral minister and helped out in the school as a proctor, athletic team chaplain and Jesuit community consultor. In 2019 he moved to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos for a ministry of prayer.
Fr. Sharp kept in touch with many of his former students. Over the years he celebrated dozens of marriages, baptisms and funerals. He gave presentations on spiritual and scriptural topics to parish and school groups and conducted group retreats.
Fr. Sharp was the author of Deepening Christian Life (1987), co-written with Francis J. Buckley, SJ, and numerous articles in theological and pastoral journals. He left unfinished a revision of his doctoral dissertation on the portrayal of Sarah and Rebecca in the Old Testament, which he hoped to publish. With knowledge of French and German, and reading knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Italian, he translated articles for publication in English. He published some of his own articles in Esperanto.
Fr. Sharp is survived by a niece, Melissa (Missy) Sharp, dear friend, Jean Puente, and many other extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers, James and Malcolm Jr., and sister, Margaret Joan Meagher.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, 300 College Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030. The funeral will be livestreamed. Inurnment will be in Spokane, WA, at a later date.
Donations in memory of Fr. Sharp may be made to the Jesuits West Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 68, Los Gatos, CA 95031, or to a charity of your choosing.