Man in 'Pursuit of Happiness'

Memorial Mass for James N. Loughran, S.J.
January 17, 2007
Reflection of Jose Lopez, Ph.D., Department of Physics and Mathematics

Fr. Loughran was a man that I greatly admired. I will always remember him as a good priest, a Jesuit of immense faith, and a scholar who I always looked up to. I’ll further always remember him as an influential teacher and mentor during a formative time in my life. However, I will foremost always remember him as a good buddy.

I first came to know Fr. Loughran during my undergraduate years at Saint Peter’s College. I’d see him around campus trotting along with his bucket fishing hat or summer straw hat going to his office or some important meeting or to the Rec Center to play tennis. He’d always cheerfully acknowledge everyone in his path with a gentle wave, broad smile, and say ‘Hello.’

My first ‘funny’ run in with him (and we had many ‘funny’ encounters through the years!) was sometime during my first year, when I was departing the College to take the PATH home. I ran into him on the corner of Kennedy and Glenwood mailing a bundle of letters. Surprised I told him “You mail your own letters?” He turned around, looked at me, and sternly said “Sure, I’m capable of doing it.” To which I replied “Yah, its pretty straightforward.” and we both proceeded to laugh. This was my first glimpse of his humorous and playful disposition.

It was a few years later during my junior year that we got to know each other quite well. Both Father and I were recruited to participate in the Emerging Leaders Program. A Student Activities mentoring program designed to help promising freshmen become student leaders. Fr. Loughran and I were somehow teamed up as the mentor (Fr. Loughran) and the peer mentor (me) of a bright freshman named Mike Keenaghan. It wasn’t quite obvious how we were supposed to go about ‘emerging’ our potential leader? Father and I discussed it at great length and he asked me about my thoughts? I basically told him I wasn’t even sure how I came be considered a leader? All I did was study and write for the Pauw Wow? He obviously laughed and mentioned that he wasn’t sure how HE came to be considered a leader either!?! At that point, I knew we were in trouble! But, somehow we hatched a scheme! A plan where we’d mentor our emerging leader by instilling in him a sense of humility, accountability to others, and a general respect of others. We didn’t want our ‘emerging’ leader to become an aloof, elitist power monger of a leader. So, we went about this goal by basically using the best possible approach: We teased Mike constantly and mercilessly to keep him grounded and humble. I think we did a good job! Mike went on to become a respected student leader and physics major. He went on to medical school and is currently a medical intern at the Jersey City Medical Center.

Our mutual mentoring experience, lead Fr. Loughran and I to become good friends. Even after my graduation in 2000, we’d meet up once in awhile for dinner to catch up. This basically meant a few hours of ribbing and mocking of each other. He even had me come back and recount our successful mentoring partnership and ‘guest mentor’ some of his later ‘emerging’ leaders.
Time spent with him was always lots of fun and enlightening. He was definitely a humble and respectful person, but he thoroughly enjoyed teasing his friends and pretty much everyone, regardless of who they were! He had a very playful; I dare say mischievous side to him. I recall his story of how he was invited by the then Governor of New Jersey, Christine Todd Whitman to play at her annual tennis tournament. Before playing, all the individual players were invited to take a picture with the governor. After taking his picture with Governor Whitman (the top Republican in New Jersey), Father proceeded to tell her: “I’m putting this picture of us right next to my picture with Joe Doria!” Who was one of the top Democrats in New Jersey!

Fr. Loughran further had a life policy that I admired, known as ‘Eggies’ in which a person that come across a good fortune or has been blessed with certain gifts should share them with others. Something that he thoroughly practiced in his life. A way of life which he followed and proceeded to benefited many people in the process!

I came to most admire how he always looked for the ‘humor’ in life. He took himself seriously, but not so serious that he didn’t laugh at himself. He was a very happy person. And he always looked to help others pursue and achieve their own happiness. Whatever that may be? He recounted to me many, many stories through the years of the great achievements of many of our alumni and their great successes and mostly their general happiness with their lives. He was truly one of God’s instruments to help others pursue happiness. Seeing others happy with their lives is what made him even happier!

All of my memories of him are happy memories. He greatly influenced me to return to our beloved Saint Peter’s College as a physics professor and help him in his mission of helping others pursue their own happiness. I will greatly miss him, but he prepared me and all of us here well for his departure! We all best honor him by continuing our own pursuits of happiness. And when we achieve happiness, share it with others! I will do my best along with all my colleagues to carry on and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

GOD BLESS YOU, GOOD BUDDY!