Fr. L. Paul Fitterer, SJ, died October 15, 2025, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. He was 94 years old. During his 75 years as a Jesuit, he held a variety of teaching and leadership positions in Jesuit schools of the Pacific Northwest.
Louis Paul Fitterer was born in Ellensburg, Washington, the son of Louis Phillip Fitterer and Mary Adelia (Yolo) Fitterer. After graduating from local schools, he attended the University of Notre Dame for a year before entering the Oregon Province’s novitiate at Sheridan, Oregon, in 1950. During his years of study for the priesthood, he taught English and Latin at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington (1957-60), before starting his theological training at Alma College in Los Gatos, a branch of Santa Clara University. He was ordained a priest in St. Aloysius Church in Spokane on June 15, 1963.
Fr. Fitterer returned to Gonzaga Prep as religion teacher in 1964. Except for a year of spiritual training (Detroit, 1966-67) and theology studies (Brussels, Belgium, 1967-68), Gonzaga Prep was his home until 1977. In addition to his teaching, he served as community superior (1971-77).
After a sabbatical year at the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago, Fr. Fitterer served as a student counselor and theology teacher at Seattle University (1978-1987). He next served as Provincial Assistant for Formation for the Oregon Province (1987-94). From his office in Portland, Oregon, he oversaw the training of the Jesuits in formation, guiding both their spiritual and academic training. From 1989 to 1999 he also served as Assistant for Secondary Education in the province and was instrumental in the formation of the Secondary School Advisory Board.
In 1995, he returned to Seattle to serve as rector of the Seattle Preparatory Jesuit community (1995-2000) and president of Seattle Prep (2001-03). In addition to these duties, he continued his work as student retreat director because, as he put it, “The spiritual formation of these young people is at the heart of what we do.” During summers, from 1998 to 2006, he also served as associate instructor in the California Province Tertianship program, guiding Jesuits in their final stage of formation, which included a 30-day retreat.
Fr. Fitterer spent a year as assistant to the president at Gonzaga Prep (2004-05), before returning to Seattle for another year as superior of the Jesuit staffs of Seattle Prep and St. Joseph’s Church. He was then appointed assistant (“socius”) to the director of novices at the Jesuit Novitiate of St. Francis Xavier in Portland, a post he held from 2006 to 2010. He then returned to Seattle Prep, working in the development office until 2017. After a sabbatical, he moved to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos in 2018 for a ministry of prayer.
Fr. Fitterer was a man of many gifts. Foremost he was a priest, celebrating Masses and sacraments for students, colleagues and family; he was a teacher and administrator; he was a noted retreat director and spiritual guide for students, Jesuits and women religious; and he wrote a series of short, illustrated children’s books on spiritual themes such as trust in God. He enjoyed playing his classic Martin guitar as the occasion arose.
Fr. Fitterer is survived by nieces Elli Falk, of Lakewood, Washington; Elizabeth Ristine, of Bainbridge Island, Washington; Joan Willingham, of Medina, Washington; and their families, as well as many extended family members and dear friends and colleagues.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11 a.m.at St. Joseph’s Church, 732 – 18th Avenue E., Seattle 98112, followed by a reception at Seattle Prep, 2400 – 11th Avenue E., Seattle 98102. The Mass will be live steamed on parish YouTube channel. Register here for reception following at Seattle Preparatory School.
Inurnment will be in Mount St. Michael’s Cemetery, Spokane, at a later date.
Donations in memory of Fr. Fitterer 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.