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In Memoriam

Jesuit Father Vincent A. Hagarman died on Sept. 10, 2017, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 95 years old. He is preceded in death by his twelve siblings.

Fr. Hagarman was born on Jan.19, 1922 in Dover, Ohio. He entered the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on August 8, 1941 at Milford, Ohio. He was ordained on June 13, 1954 at West Baden College in southern Indiana, and took final vows on August 15, 1958 in Dallas, Texas.

Before entering the Society, Fr. Hagarman attended John Carroll University for one year. As a Jesuit, he earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Xavier University (1945). He earned licentiate degrees in philosophy (1948) and sacred theology (1955) from West Baden College in West Baden, Indiana. He studied physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for one year (1956-1957). Fr. Hagarman earned a master’s (1957-1959) and a Ph.D. (1959-1961) in physics from the University of Texas. His Ph.D. dissertation was titled “Ferromagnetism and Its Influence on X-ray Absorption Spectra.”

During regency Fr. Hagarman taught Latin, math, and physics at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland (1948-1951). After obtaining his Ph.D., he taught at the University of Detroit (1961-1974) and was superior of the Collegian Program at U of D (1970-1972). In 1974 Fr. Hagarman moved to “the High” on 7 Mile Road. At the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (UDJHS&A) he taught physics (1974-1986) and was rector of the Jesuit Community (1976-1979).

During his sabbatical in 1986-1987, Fr. Hagarman learned how to program and use computers and was very helpful in converting the UDJHS&A Advancement records to a computer format. In 1987 he moved to Clinton, Ohio, and for almost twenty years directed retreats at Loyola of the Lakes Retreat House (LOTL). He also did many other “jobs” at LOTL: taking care of the ground hog population, setting up and maintaining the computer system, and caring for the grounds.

In 2006 Fr. Hagarman moved to Colombiere Center to care for his health. At Colombiere Center Fr. Hagarman remained active in the community by putting together jigsaw puzzles in the rec room, setting up the daily social, feeding the fish in the aquarium in the dining room, and sorting the mail.