Dear Rockhurst High School Community,

Trusting in God who loves us more than we can imagine, I write today to share with you that the 16th President of Rockhurst High School, Fr. Terrence A. Baum, SJ, died peacefully last evening, July 29, after a short stay in hospice at the St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wisconsin following a recurrence of melanoma. He was 72 years old.

Fr. Baum served as the President of Rockhurst High School from February 2004 through June 2017. I had the privilege of serving with him at Rockhurst from February 2004 to June 2005 and had the privilege of knowing him for many years prior to his start as our president. 

During his tenure, Rockhurst achieved many new heights and his leadership saw numerous accomplishments and positive momentum that included:

$41.3 million in fundraising;
$25 million in capital improvements:
   • Loyola Center
   • Hawklets Center
   • Dining Commons
   • Interactive Learning Commons

He empowered significant program improvements:
   • STEM Programming - the first accredited STEM school in Kansas or Missouri
   • Health and Wellness Program
   • iPad Program
   • Hurtado Scholars Program
   • The Choral Program

Fr. Baum also wrote the school’s "Alma Mater", which choirs, sports teams, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies proudly sing.

Having served decades in Jesuit high schools from New York to Chicago; Cincinnati to Kansas City, Fr. Baum is fondly remembered in our prayers of thanksgiving for the goodness of his life’s impact on the Rockhurst High School Community.

Fr. Baum is a Jesuit of the Midwest Province and arrangements are pending announcement.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Baum and for his fellow Jesuits and friends and family who mourn his loss. May the Angels come to greet him! May his soul and the souls of the faithfully departed rest in the Peace of Christ.

 

God bless,

David J. Laughlin

President

Rockhurst High School