Richard Comerford | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Richard Comerford SJ Title: Rev First Name: Richard Middle Names: Preferred Name: Surname: Comerford Order: SJ Date of Birth: 07-Jan-1911 Place of Birth: Chiltern VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Sydney NSW Country of Ordination: Australia Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 14-Sep-1970 Place of Death: Sydney NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: Sep - 1970 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/306540644 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Comerford, Richard Teacher; born Chiltern, Victoria, 7 January 1911; died Sydney, 14 September 1970, aged 59. Richard Comerford was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and entered the Jesuit noviciate at Loyola College, Greenwich, 2 February 1927. He went to Ireland and Rathfarnham as a junior at the National University. While he was never robust, it was during this time that he had an accident, which, though it did no serious physical damage, gave him a great nervous shock. Hence his return to Australia 1932-36, where he taught at St Aloysius' College and assisted the prefect of discipline. Philosophy studies were at Loyola College, Watsonia, and Canisius College, Pymble, 1937-39. He had a year break at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, in 1940, followed by theology at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44. His ordination year was the first group from Canisius College ordained in Sydney. Tertianship at Loyola College, Watsonia, followed in 1945. Comerford returned to St Aloysius' College, 1946-61, teaching in the junior school, and science in the middle school. But his greatest work was the annual production of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera in cooperation with Mr. William Caspers. These operas were one of the great highlights of the college each year, and were most professionally produced. They were his crowning glory. He was one of the casualties of the visitor's changes within the province in 1961, and was sent to Norwood, where he taught religion, English, physics, chemistry and elementary science for some years, but ill health finally reduced him to work in the tuck shop. The rector of St Aloysius' College, Vincent Conway, finally succeeded in gaining his return to the college in 1967, when he resumed teaching religion, geography, and elementary science. It had been the hope that he would resume production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, but his health did not make that possible. In 1968 he looked after the bookshop. Comerford was one of nature's real gentlemen, and a man of great courtesy, respecting the dignity of each individual. He was also a most genuinely humble, self-effacing person. He was easily upset by student immaturity, but was much appreciated by those whom he taught and those who worked with him in the opera productions. He had great creative talent, was a good teacher of English, spoke polished English and had a fine singing voice. His practice of personal poverty was obvious to all, and he was most faithful to the ministerial duties of the priesthood. He finally died of a stroke and complications of the heart. His funeral, from the chapel of the college, was most moving. Four former rectors were present as well as Archbishop O'Brien, his mother and three sisters, and many former parents. The Mass was sung by the students of the college, who also formed a guard of honour outside the chapel at the end of the ceremony. All those who knew him held him in high esteem. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Richard

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Comerford

Order:

Date of Birth:

07-Jan-1911

Place of Birth:

Chiltern VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Sydney NSW

Country of Ordination:

Australia

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

14-Sep-1970

Place of Death:

Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

Sep - 1970

Place of Burial:

Gore Hill NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/306540644

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Teacher; born Chiltern, Victoria, 7 January 1911; died Sydney, 14 September 1970, aged 59.

Richard Comerford was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and entered the Jesuit noviciate at Loyola College, Greenwich, 2 February 1927. He went to Ireland and Rathfarnham as a junior at the National University. While he was never robust, it was during this time that he had an accident, which, though it did no serious physical damage, gave him a great nervous shock. Hence his return to Australia 1932-36, where he taught at St Aloysius' College and assisted the prefect of discipline.

Philosophy studies were at Loyola College, Watsonia, and Canisius College, Pymble, 1937-39. He had a year break at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, in 1940, followed by theology at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44. His ordination year was the first group from Canisius College ordained in Sydney. Tertianship at Loyola College, Watsonia, followed in 1945.

Comerford returned to St Aloysius' College, 1946-61, teaching in the junior school, and science in the middle school. But his greatest work was the annual production of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera in cooperation with Mr. William Caspers. These operas were one of the great highlights of the college each year, and were most professionally produced. They were his crowning glory.

He was one of the casualties of the visitor's changes within the province in 1961, and was sent to Norwood, where he taught religion, English, physics, chemistry and elementary science for some years, but ill health finally reduced him to work in the tuck shop. The rector of St Aloysius' College, Vincent Conway, finally succeeded in gaining his return to the college in 1967, when he resumed teaching religion, geography, and elementary science. It had been the hope that he would resume production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, but his health did not make that possible. In 1968 he looked after the bookshop.

Comerford was one of nature's real gentlemen, and a man of great courtesy, respecting the dignity of each individual. He was also a most genuinely humble, self-effacing person. He was easily upset by student immaturity, but was much appreciated by those whom he taught and those who worked with him in the opera productions. He had great creative talent, was a good teacher of English, spoke polished English and had a fine singing voice.

His practice of personal poverty was obvious to all, and he was most faithful to the ministerial duties of the priesthood. He finally died of a stroke and complications of the heart. His funeral, from the chapel of the college, was most moving. Four former rectors were present as well as Archbishop O'Brien, his mother and three sisters, and many former parents. The Mass was sung by the students of the college, who also formed a guard of honour outside the chapel at the end of the ceremony. All those who knew him held him in high esteem.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Richard Comerford SJ

Biographical Notes