Anthony Fynn | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Anthony Fynn SJ Title: Rev First Name: Anthony Middle Names: Gerard Preferred Name: Surname: Fynn Order: SJ Date of Birth: 22-Sep-1899 Place of Birth: Yea VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 02-Feb-1965 Place of Death: Sydney NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1965 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300521075 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Fynn, Anthony Philosopher, scientist, astronomer; born Yea, Victoria, 22 September 1899; died Sydney, 2 February 1965, aged 65. Anthony Fynn was educated at McCristal's, Mentone, and for two periods at Xavier College, Kew, 1912-13, and 1915-17, winning prizes in physics, trigonometry, and debating. He entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 1 February 1918, and was a university junior at Rathfarnham, 1920-23, gaining a BSc degree. Philosophy studies followed at Valkenburg, 1923-26, and he returned to Australia to teach at Xavier College, 1927-30, and was also prefect of discipline and editor of the Xaverian. He returned to Ireland and Milltown Park for theology, 1930-34, and did tertianship at Innsbruck, 1934-35. He began his main work in Australia as a lecturer in philosophy at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1935-58. In turn, he taught natural theology, cosmology, psychology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. He was also prefect of tones, choir master and minister for short periods. For some years he directed the 'Question Box' on the radio's Catholic Hour. He was also a popular retreat giver. Fynn was fluent in both French and German and read widely. It was always refreshing to discuss with him some problem. He had no hesitation in making up his mind, and in no time he would sweep away any doubts or illusions one might have on the subject under discussion. Having a very accurate mind, he was inclined to be intolerant of mis-statements. It was said among Jesuits that being particularly gifted at mathematics and science he was meant to work at the Riverview observatory, but there always seemed to be others preferred for that work. His work as a philosophy lecturer did not have much appeal to him. He was very pleased to succeed Burke-Gaffney at the observatory in 1958, and he remained there happily until his death. In 1962 he supervised the installation of the American seismological network - at the time the most modern equipment available. His presence and scholarship were appreciated among the scientific community. It was during the Second World War when he was an Air Force chaplain that it was discovered that he had the diabetes that ultimately caused his death. However, he worked so continuously and cheerfully that most did not know about his sickness. He had a lively wit and some of his comments were memorable. During a meeting of a provincial congregation he observed the professed fathers approaching the refectory -'If that is the cream of the Society, I am glad to be in the skim milk'! (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Anthony

Middle Names:

Gerard

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Fynn

Order:

Date of Birth:

22-Sep-1899

Place of Birth:

Yea VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

02-Feb-1965

Place of Death:

Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1965

Place of Burial:

Gore Hill NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300521075

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Fynn, Anthony

Philosopher, scientist, astronomer; born Yea, Victoria, 22 September 1899; died Sydney, 2 February 1965, aged 65.

Anthony Fynn was educated at McCristal's, Mentone, and for two periods at Xavier College, Kew, 1912-13, and 1915-17, winning prizes in physics, trigonometry, and debating. He entered the Society at Loyola College, Greenwich, 1 February 1918, and was a university junior at Rathfarnham, 1920-23, gaining a BSc degree. Philosophy studies followed at Valkenburg, 1923-26, and he returned to Australia to teach at Xavier College, 1927-30, and was also prefect of discipline and editor of the Xaverian. He returned to Ireland and Milltown Park for theology, 1930-34, and did tertianship at Innsbruck, 1934-35.

He began his main work in Australia as a lecturer in philosophy at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1935-58. In turn, he taught natural theology, cosmology, psychology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. He was also prefect of tones, choir master and minister for short periods. For some years he directed the 'Question Box' on the radio's Catholic Hour. He was also a popular retreat giver.

Fynn was fluent in both French and German and read widely. It was always refreshing to discuss with him some problem. He had no hesitation in making up his mind, and in no time he would sweep away any doubts or illusions one might have on the subject under discussion. Having a very accurate mind, he was inclined to be intolerant of mis-statements.

It was said among Jesuits that being particularly gifted at mathematics and science he was meant to work at the Riverview observatory, but there always seemed to be others preferred for that work. His work as a philosophy lecturer did not have much appeal to him.

He was very pleased to succeed Burke-Gaffney at the observatory in 1958, and he remained there happily until his death. In 1962 he supervised the installation of the American seismological network - at the time the most modern equipment available. His presence and scholarship were appreciated among the scientific community.

It was during the Second World War when he was an Air Force chaplain that it was discovered that he had the diabetes that ultimately caused his death. However, he worked so continuously and cheerfully that most did not know about his sickness. He had a lively wit and some of his comments were memorable. During a meeting of a provincial congregation he observed the professed fathers approaching the refectory -'If that is the cream of the Society, I am glad to be in the skim milk'!

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Anthony Fynn SJ

Biographical Notes