Fr. Robert H. Cousineau, SJ was born in Fall River, MA to Lucien Cousineau and Yvonne (Lagarde) Cousineau on March 12, 1929. In 1943 Bob attended Classical High School in Providence, RI until his parents moved to New York in 1946. He completed his High School education at Cathedral College High School in Brooklyn. After graduation, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson on July 30, 1947; there he completed his Novitiate and Juniorate.
In 1951, Fr. Cousineau went to Weston College in Cambridge, MA to study Philosophy. His regency was spent at Xavier High School in Manhattan (1954-1955), where he taught French, and then at Canisius High School in Buffalo, NY, where he taught French and Chemistry (1955-1957).
Fr. Cousineau then studied Theology at Woodstock College in Woodstock MD (1957-1961). He was ordained to the priesthood by Francis Cardinal Spellman on June 18, 1960 in the Fordham University Church. After completing his Theological studies, Fr. Cousineau made his Tertianship in Belgium (1961-1962).
He then taught briefly at Jesuit Prep in Miami (1962-1963), then at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City (1963-1964), and finally at Canisius College in Buffalo (1964-1965). This was followed by extended study of Philosophy at the University of Paris (1965-1968), from which he received his doctorate in 1969.
From 1969 to 1975, Fr. Cousineau taught Philosophy at St. Peter’s University. After teaching Philosophy and Psychology at Seattle University (1975-1989), he returned to St. Peter’s University to teach Philosophy. It was from there that he retired in 1996.
Fr. Cousineau was an avid fisherman and an excellent cook. Each summer while he was teaching at St. Peter’s University, he would go to Canada and would always return with a 5-foot Muskie that barely fit in the back seat of his car. He’d bring it to the St. Peter’s villa house in Deal, NJ where he would prepare it and serve it to the community.
After his retirement from teaching, Fr. Cousineau went to Guernsey, WY to be Pastor of St. Anthony Church (1996-2009). On his return to New York in 2009, he resided at Loyola Hall on the Fordham Campus, while doing Pastoral Ministry in the Bronx. In 2012, Bob moved with the Loyola Community to Murray-Weigel Hall.
Fr. Cousineau’s health gradually deteriorated, and he became more and more incapacitated. He died on September 8, 2020 a few days after suffering a stroke. He devoted his life to the Society of Jesus. May he now rest in peace in the company of the Lord he sought so diligently to serve.