Thomas Donald Masterson

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Friday, Aug. 31, for the Rev. Thomas Donald Masterson, S.J., who died Aug. 27, 2012, at Manresa Hall in Merion Station, Pa. Father Masterson, who was 78, had been a Jesuit for 61 years and a priest for 48.

Thomas D. Masterson, the son of Louise E. Quigley and Daniel S. Masterson of Washington, D.C., was born September 30, 1933. Following graduation from Gonzaga College High School near Capitol Hill, he entered the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, Pa. He pronounced first vows Aug. 15, 1953. He was ordained June 14, 1964, at Woodstock College.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Loyola Seminary in Shrub Oak, New York, in 1957, and a master's in teaching history from Fordham University in 1959. He also earned his licentiate in 1953 and bachelor's in 1965, both in sacred theology at Woodstock College, in Woodstock, Md. After further studies, this time at Georgetown University, Father Masterson earned his master's degree in 1969 and his Ph.D. in 1976, both in American history. Later, in 2001-2002, he took a sabbatical at Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass.

As a Jesuit scholastic, Father Masterson was assigned to Loyola High School in Towson, 1958-1961, where he taught English, Latin and religion. From 1973 to 1976 he was assigned as minister of Campion House, a students' dormitory at Georgetown University in Washington.

Father Masterson began his long tenure at the University of Scranton in 1976, serving as a professor of history from 1976 to 2004. He was also director of campus ministry from 1976 to 1991. Then he served as vice president for university ministry at the university from 1991 to 2002.

Due to poor health, Father Masterson was assigned to Manresa Hall in Philadelphia in 2004, where he prayed for the Church and the Society until his death.

A wake for Father Masterson will be held at Manresa Hall at St. Joseph's University today, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 31, after a wake service at 10 a.m. at St. Matthias Church, 128 Bryn Mawr Ave., Bala Cynwyd, Pa., the funeral Mass will be offered at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Jesuit Cemetery in Wernersville, Pa.

Father Masterson is survived by his sister, Louise Valenti of Sandy Spring, Md.