Edward A. Reese, S.J.
Edward A. Reese, S.J.
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Edward A. Reese, S.J. Obituary
Born in Alhambra, California, on October 2, 1942, Fr. Reese was one of four siblings. His parents, an algebra teacher and a Superior Court judge, instilled in him values of integrity and loyalty. He discovered his calling to the priesthood during a high school retreat at Loyola High School in Los Angeles.
Fr. Reese was a dedicated educator and administrator throughout his life. He taught at his alma mater, Loyola High School, where he fell in love with teaching, and later studied theology at Berkeley before being ordained in 1973.
His career included leadership roles at several Jesuit schools. At Bellarmine College Preparatory in San José, he was an early adopter of technology, helping the school become a beta test site for Silicon Valley companies. He also served as president of Brophy High School in Phoenix for 20 years, where he created the Loyola Academy, a tuition-free middle school for underserved students-a model for the Fr. Sauer Academy. Under his leadership, Brophy's campus and financial aid budget quadrupled, and he raised over $85 million.
Known for his kindness and joy, Fr. Reese often walked the halls of St. Ignatius with his canine companions, Roger and Ginger, providing comfort to students. He also gained national recognition when he presided over the funeral services for Senator John McCain in 2018.
Fr. Reese's vision and leadership have secured the future of Jesuit education in San Francisco for the next century. He took a leave of absence from his role in July after a cancer diagnosis.
A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Ignatius Parish Church, 650 Parker Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118.
4 Entries
Xichen liang
August 19, 2025
He was a great president, as he created the middle school at Saint Ignatius, Father Saur Academy, which I learn at. Rest in peace, Father Reese.
Jonathan Schechter
August 19, 2025
Fr. Reese (Eddy) was the principal at Bellarmine when my son was a student there. He was very special in many ways. Of note was when he called my son by his first name after just a few weeks into his freshman year. I was picking him up from school and I asked my son what he had done wrong to have Fr. Reese already know him...he said that Fr. Reese knew every boys name by the end of week two. Getting to know him better at the Father-Senior son retreat was so special.
A Fellow Pilgrim
August 18, 2025
Thank you for the witness of your vowed religious life, your share in the priesthood of Our Lord, your dedicated service to others, all in faithful discipleship to Christ and His Church.
Darling & Fischer Chapel of the Hills
August 18, 2025
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
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