William Storey

William Storey
April 23, 1923 - January 16, 2014

William Storey passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2014 after a brief illness. Born on April 23, 1923 he started his 90 years in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He was born to Anglo-Saxon and French Canadian parents who preceded him in death.

Educated in a public grade school and a collegiate high school, Bill entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order at the age of 19. For four years he endured its peculiar lifestyle before continuing his education at Assumption College of the University of Western Ontario, earning a B.A. and M.A. in Honors Philosophy. He then moved to the United States to enter the Medieval Institute of the University of Notre Dame from which he graduated with an M.A. and a doctorate in Medieval Studies.

In September of 1951 he married Elaine Curry of Detroit, MI. She preceded him in death in 1999. Together they had seven children, Elizabeth (deceased), Margaret (Raymond Ortiz), David (Cathy Roemer), Joan, John (Janice), Paul (Tamara) and Clare (deceased). Bill was gifted with five grandchildren, Corey Gill (Jill), Zachary Ortiz (Kaity), Mathew and Neil Storey, and Claire Storey; and one great-grandchild, Oliver Ortiz. Also surviving are three nephews of his late sister, Shirley and her husband, Walter; Paul, Peter, and Mark along with their families. He was preceded in death by his brother, David. After his divorce in 1977, Bill espoused Philip Howland Schatz in a happy and prized ‘marriage’ until his death.

In 1955 Bill began his teaching career in the department of history of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, specializing in Medieval History. He was department chair for six years and an adjunct professor in the department of theology, teaching Liturgy and Church History. During most of those years he was also a fairly well known activist in interracial affairs, the war against the Vietnamese people, and the beginnings of the Catholic Pentecostal Movement. As a result, he was not popular with the Duquesne administration, the bishop of Pittsburgh, and as it turned out, with the F.B.I. which kept an all too copious file on him and tried, and failed, to prevent him from becoming a citizen in 1965. Bill was rather relieved in 1967 when he was invited to teach in the newly founded doctoral program in liturgical studies at Notre Dame. In 1968 he was asked to devise an undergraduate program for majors in theology and began a 10-credit course in Church History as the core of that program. Bill retired in 1985 but continued directing doctoral students in Liturgy until 1988. He enjoyed a long and fruitful connection with many of his students and colleagues and was grateful for their cooperation and lasting friendship. In retirement Bill became part owner of Erasmus Books in South Bend and with his partner, Philip, enjoyed a long career as booksellers. He continued his career in publishing a popular series of prayer books.

Bill died in the communion of the Catholic Church and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on January 24, 2014, at St. Hedwig Catholic Church, South Bend, IN. He asks his children, grandchildren, friends, and other relatives to pray for the repose of his soul. They may like to use this prayer (prepared by Bill):

Heavenly Father,

by the precious blood shed by your only Son

on the cross of Calvary for our salvation,

and by the prayers of the great Mother of God,

Mary most holy, and of all the saints gone before us;

please forgive the sins of Bill Storey, committed by his own fault,

in his thoughts and in his words, and by what he failed to do.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.