Rev. Ralph J. Drendel

1922 - 2012

Rev. Ralph J. Drendel, S.J.
August 2, 1922 - December 2, 2012
Resident of Los Gatos
Rev. Ralph J. Drendel, S.J., 90, died December 2, 2012 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, after a long illness. He was a Jesuit for 72 years, a priest for 59 years.
Ralph was born in San Francisco on August 2, 1922. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1940 and entered the Jesuit novitiate at Los Gatos. He received an MA in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, taught mathematics at Bellarmine College Prep, San Jose, 1947-50, and made his theological studies at Alma College, and was ordained a priest in 1953.
Upon completion of studies, he was assigned to the Superior General's office in Rome, where he served from 1955-59. Returning to the United States, he was named Director of Novices for the California province at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Los Gatos, a post he held until 1963 when he became Rector and Director of Novices at the newly established novitiate in Santa Barbara. In 1967 he returned to Rome for a year of theological studies. He welcomed a return to the high school classroom as teacher of religion at Loyola High School, Los Angeles, 1968-70.
From 1970 - 1972 Ralph went once again to Rome for more theological study. After these studies he returned to high school ministry, as teacher of mathematics and religion at St. Ignatius Prep, San Francisco. In 1976 he became Principal of Bishop Manogue High School, Reno. In 1983 he accepted a similar position at Bishop Kelly High School, Boise, a post he held until 1986, when he left administration for the classroom as teacher of mathematics and computer science at Bellarmine Prep.
From 2000 - 2008 Ralph served as a spiritual director for seminarians of the Denver Archdiocese, a time he described as among the happiest of his life. With the advancement of his Parkinson's disease, he retired to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, where he received a steady stream of visits from his former seminarians.
Over the years he gave countless retreats, conferences and summer institutes to many communities of women religious. He was an esteemed counselor and spiritual director and an effective high school teacher who had a lasting impact on those who knew him.
Ralph described himself as a traditionalist. Although uncomfortable with many changes in the church, he was determined to hold to his strong loyalties "to Christ and the principles of St. Ignatius Loyola."
Ralph was predeceased by a brother, Herbert Drendel. He is survived by nieces, Leslie Limpert of San Rafael and Julie Bolton of Incline Village.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 10, 2012, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, 300 College Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030, with burial immediately afterward at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050.
Donations in memory of Father Drendel may be made to the California Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 68, Los Gatos, CA 95031 or to a charity of your choice.