Edward A. Reese, S.J.

San Francisco - Edward A. Reese, S.J. (1942-2025) the 31st president of St. Ignatius College Preparatory, passed away on August 2, 2025, at the age of 82. During his nine-year tenure at St. Ignatius, Fr. Reese was a transformative leader. He founded the Fr. Sauer Academy, a full-scholarship middle school for underserved students, and spearheaded the construction of the New Learning Commons, a significant facility that will shape the future of the school.

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.