Fr. Paul F. Conen, SJ, a former professor and administrator at what is now the University of Detroit Mercy, died Feb. 19 at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac.

Born Sept. 23, 1926, in Youngs-town, Ohio, he attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland for the first two years of high school and graduated in 1944 from St. Charles High School in Cantonsville, Md.

He earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Latin and Greek from Loyola University in Chicago. In 1963, he earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Munich in Germany.

Fr. Conen entered the Society of Jesus on Aug. 20, 1944, at Milford, Ohio. He was ordained June 19, 1957, and took final vows Feb. 2, 1962.

He taught Latin and Greek during regency in the Juniorate at Milford (1951-53) and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland (1953-54).

After receiving his doctorate, he spent two years teaching philosophy the first semester at the University of Detroit and the second semester at Bellarmine School of Theology in North Aurora, Ill. (1963-65).

Fr. Conen spent much of his apostolic life at the University of Detroit, where he was a professor of philosophy (1965-69), dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1965-69), rector (1969-72), director of Religious Activities (1970-72), worked in the Romero Spiritual Exercises Center (1980-87), and was professor of philosophy and religious studies (1987-97).

Father spent the rest of his apostolic life at Colombiere Center, Clarkston, where he first was a retreat and spiritual director (1972-80) and in recent years performed community service (1997-2013).

A memorial Mass will be held at Colombiere Center in Clarkston on March 23 at 11 a.m.

Memorials to Jesuit International Missions or the Jesuit Partnership, 2050 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, or online at www.Jesuits-chgdet.org.