Father David J. Leigh, SJ, retired professor of English literature at Seattle University, died on the morning of Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California. He was 88 years of age and had been a member of the Jesuit order for 70 years.
David Joseph Leigh was born in Seattle April 16, 1937, the son of Richard W. Leigh and Ruth Ann Taylor Leigh. After graduating from Seattle Preparatory School in 1955, he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Sheridan, Oregon, to study for the priesthood. Following his two-year novitiate and two years of studying the classics at Sheridan, he went to Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane, Washinton, Gonzaga University’s school of philosophy, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in honors classical studies (1961), a Licentiate in Philosophy (1962) and a master’s degree in English (1963).
He then taught Greek, Latin and English at Gonzaga Prep (1962-1965) before starting his theological studies at Regis College in Toronto, earning a master’s degree and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1969. He then pursued graduate studies in English literature at Yale University, earning a doctorate in 1972 with a dissertation on the 18th-century English poet William Cowper.
It was while he was at Regis that Fr. Leigh met theology professor Tibor Horvath, SJ, who became a major influence in his theological thinking. He later collaborated with Fr. Horvath in the International Society for the Study of Human Ideas on Ultimate Reality and Meaning, serving as editor of its journal. A prominent focus of his published output examined how literature shines light on theological questions about ultimate reality.
Fr. Leigh taught English literature at Gonzaga University (1972-1983) and was concurrently appointed rector of the Saint Michael’s Institute (1976-1982), the community of Jesuit scholastics studying philosophy on the Gonzaga campus.
In 1983, Fr. Leigh began a long association with Seattle University. Over a 36-year tenure, he was associate professor, then professor of English, while serving in a variety of academic roles: director of the Honors Program (1983-1993), department chair (1993-1998), director of core curriculum (1990-2000) and president of the Academic Assembly (2002-2004). He retired from the university in 2019, moving to Los Gatos for a ministry of prayer in 2020.
Fr. Leigh was the author of two books, Circuitous Journeys: Modern Spiritual Autobiography (2000) and Apocalyptic Patterns in Twentieth-Century Fiction (2008), as well as over 40 chapters in books and articles in scholarly journals. Most focused on the meeting of literature and theological questions.
Fr. Leigh is survived by his sister-in-law, Roberta Leigh; nieces and nephews Steve, Jennifer, Christina, David, Colleen, Mary and Michael; and 20 great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Jenifer and Robert.
The funeral services will be held on Monday, February 16, 2026, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, 300 College Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030, with visitation from 10-11 a.m. and a Funeral Mass at 11:15 a.m. View the livestream.
A Memorial Mass will also be held at Seattle University’s St. Ignatius Chapel on February 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.; all are welcome to attend. Interment will be held at Mount St. Michael’s Cemetery on Spokane at a date to be determined.
Donations in memory of Fr. Leigh 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.