By Kristie Schiefer
Assistant News Editor
Fr. Reginald A. Redlon, O.F.M., the 15th president of St. Bonaventure University and a professed Franciscan friar for 68 years died Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J. at 90 years old.
Redlon was born on January 10, 1922 in Westbrook outside of Portland, ME. After attending Westbrook High School, he entered the Franciscan order in Callicoon, N.Y. in 1943. He was ordained in 1949 in Washington, D.C before coming to St. Bonaventure in 1950 to serve as an instructor of philosophy. He also served as a prefect of discipline at Christ the King Seminar, according to university archives.
Redlon went on to further his studies in Paris and the University of Friedsburg, Switzerland before receiving his doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Louvain in 1955. Redlon was rector and superior at St. Francis College from 1961 until 1967 when he was appointed president of St. Bonaventure University, according to university archives.
Throughout his term as president, Redlon made several contributions to make St. Bonaventure what it is today. He oversaw the creation of the Faculty Senate along with increasing the number of faculty members with terminal degrees. During his five years in office he was able to increase contributed funds and was also able to renovate several buildings. He also added laymen to the Board of Trustees which up until this time had been members of the order. He took the time to completely revise the Administrative handbook and began granting college sabbaticals, according to university archives.
One particular incident involving barn fires brought a positive message from Redlon in a quote from the November 5, 1970 issue of Olean Times Herald.
“He said that he would not be intimidated by the fire, and assured students that he did not believe ‘the idea that what has occurred is somehow or ever a sign of a vicious or malicious destructive attitude on the part of our students or on the part of the [student] Senate. I do not believe that at all,’” according to Dennis Frank, university archivist.
During his presidency, several other issues that Redlon was faced with reflected those of other colleges and universities, according to Frank.
“Free speech, curriculum changes, the Vietnam War and particularly at Bonas, more open residence hall life with fewer restrictions on men and women visiting each other’s dormitory rooms were the focus on campuses across the country,” Frank said. “Add to that changes relating to Vatican II and the decisions to be made relating to “Bundy Aid” from New York State and it was a very difficult time to administer any college, a Catholic one in particular.”
However, Frank is only familiar with Redlon based on reading SBU’s historical records, and what he has heard from a few people who were here in his time.
“My impression is that he was well liked as a person, that students felt that he was accessible and willing to discuss issues with them on a personal basis,” Frank said. “His great misfortune was to become the president of a university during the most turbulent and contentious time in the history of higher education in this country when quiet, reasoned discussion was difficult to achieve.”
Redlon was known to be and will always be remembered as a true St. Bonaventure man.
“His presidency will be remembered as controversial but also as a time of vibrancy which set the stage for the major changes to come in our development,” Frank said.
A wake for Fr. Reginald will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at St. Anthony Church, 65 Bartholdi Ave., Butler, N.J. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Anthony. Interment will be at God’s Acre Cemetery, Ringwood, N.J.
schiefkm10@bonaventure.edu
