Tuesday, April 21st, 2020
The Rev. Frank Oppenheim
Fr. Frank M. Oppenheim, S.J., was granted eternal peace on April 3, 2020, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan.
Born May 18, 1925, Frank was the third child of Ted and Anna Oppenheim of Coldwater, Ohio, and the grandson of Joseph Oppenheim - teacher, inventor, and founder of the New Idea Spreader Company, the main employer in Coldwater for the first half of the twentieth century.
Frank is survived by his sister, Sr. Ramona Oppenheim, (M.M.) of Maryknoll, NY.
Called to serve God from a young age, Frank entered the Society of Jesus in September 1942, was ordained in June 1955, and took final vows in February 1960. Frank earned Bachelor and Master degrees from Loyola University Chicago and West Baden College, respectively, and a Doctorate in Philosophy from St. Louis University. For decades Frank was considered the preeminent expert on the philosophy and writings of American philosopher Josiah Royce.
A lifelong student and teacher, during his Philosophy studies from 1948-1952, Frank taught high school French and Latin. In 1961, Frank was missioned to Xavier University where he spent most of his Jesuit life as professor of Philosophy until 2009. In addition to his research, writing, and committee work at Xavier, Frank served as the director of the Kenya Sociological Survey and teacher at St. Paul's Seminary in Wau, Sudan, from 1976-77.
In 2008, Frank continued his research on Royce at the Harvard University archives and in 2009, he moved to the Jesuit Community's Colombiere Center, Michigan, where he furthered his research, authored articles, essays and books, and was editor of a critical edition of Royce's book "The Problem of Christianity."
Frank was drawn to Royce's devotion to the ideas of loyalty and community, Frank's extensive scholarly pursuits helped define and communicate these concepts through the realms of philosophy and religion.
With regard to family, Frank's unwavering dedication to the idea of loyalty was the impetus for his organizing many Oppenheim family reunions. He understood the necessity of family returning to, reconnecting with, and reveling in one another. Additionally, Frank celebrated the marriage and baptismal Masses for more than 40 nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Frank was a devoted Jesuit who deeply loved Christ. He was a scholar who loved to "seek the truth." He would ask questions, research, and write in his quest to find - and share - the Truth. Through his words and writings, he advocated a "philosophy of loyalty." Throughout his life, Frank was peace-filled, jovial, and considerate - a gentleman and a scholar, and a wonderful Jesuit priest, in the very best way.
The Mass of Christian burial and interment was held, April 14, 2020, at Colombiere Center. The Oppenheim family thanks his Jesuit community and also extends its sincerest gratitude to Mrs. Sandy Barlow, care-giver, for her unwavering compassion for, and loyalty to, Frank in his later years.
