John Adam, S.J., a longtime member of the Fordham University community and former provincial of the Hungarian Province of the Society of Jesus, died on April 15. He was 83.

John Adam, S.J.

Father Adam was a member of the faculty at Fordham, first teaching philosophy in the Undergraduate School of Education from 1962 until 1971, and then in the College at Lincoln Center from 1971 to 1994.

He was then called to Hungary to be the first provincial of the newly restored Hungarian Province of the Society.

“He traveled all over the world, but would always be back to teaching on Monday,” said Anne Mannion, Ph.D., associate professor of history, who knew Father Adams for more than 40 years. “He was a great friend, and his students adored him. He worked extremely well with young people. He recognized that was part of a Jesuit’s responsibility.”

Father Adam, who died at the Jesuit Community in Miskolc, Hungary, following a long illness, left his mark on the spiritual community around the world. He was a priest for 50 of his 83years. He died on the day of his 83rd birthday, in the presence of his Jesuit brothers.

Fellow Jesuits, colleagues, students and family members cherish the memories of his faithful love for all people, which was rooted in Jesus’ faithful love for him.

Astrid O’Brien, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, said Father Adam “touched the lives of many students.”

“He was loved by all who knew him,” she said.

A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on April 23 in Miskolc.

A memorial service was held in the Blessed Rupert Mayer Chapel on the Lincoln Center campus that same day.

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Gina Vergel is Senior Director of Communications. She oversees the digital news coverage, public relations, and social media for the university. Before joining Fordham in 2007, Gina worked as a reporter for the Home News Tribune, and The Ridgewood News, where she won Society of Professional Journalist (New Jersey chapter) awards for breaking news and feature writing, respectively. She can be reached at gvergel@fordham.edu or (646) 579-9957.