Loyola celebrates the life of Frank McGuire, Ph.D.

Francis (Frank) McGuire, ’54, longtime chemistry professor and administrator at Loyola, died January 28.

McGuire spent most of his life at Loyola, first as a student. He graduated cum laude from Loyola College in 1954 and received the McNeal Gold Medal for Chemistry. He went on to earn his master’s and doctorate in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University before returning to Loyola in 1963 to teach.

McGuire served in various roles across the University, including the Dean of Studies for Loyola College, Director of the Center for the Humanities, and Dean of Enrollment Management, Graduate Division. In addition to these roles, McGuire continued to teach chemistry.

For many, McGuire was the face of Loyola, a steady fixture on campus during his 34 years here as a professor and administrator.

“I don’t remember a time when Frank wasn’t here,” said Carol “Sue” Abromaitis, Ph.D., professor of English. “He was truly a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was an ideal colleague and quite a dean – always available and smart. He was a good scholar, chemist, administrator, family man, friend and human.”

McGuire was one of the first people Frank Cunningham, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, met at Loyola. McGuire interviewed Cunningham for his job in the philosophy department, the job Cunningham has had the last 51 years.

“Frank was very methodical and steady, the kind of guy you’d want managing thing if they got chaotic,” said Frank Cunningham, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy.

As dean of Loyola College, McGuire oversaw Commencement Exercises and served as chairman for Commencement for 30 years. No detail was overlooked, and he made sure the day was special for students and their families. When Commencement was on the lawn outside of Maryland Hall, McGuire took a lawn chair and sat in every possible spot to make sure parents and families had a good view of the podium from their seats.

Another responsibility that fell to McGuire was making the decision to close for inclement weather. Tom Scheye, Ph.D., distinguished professor of English and special advisor to the President for strategy and planning, recalled McGuire’s process: McGuire would drive to the Evergreen campus and look around at the parking lots and sidewalks to deem whether he thought it was safe to open for classes.

“Frank was the dean of Loyola College for so long that people thought his first name was Dean,” said Scheye. “I cannot think of anyone that was devoted to Loyola as Frank McGuire.”

McGuire was instrumental in the creation of the Cosmos and Creation conference, an annual weekend-long conference that brings together scientists to discuss their vision of God and the world as it relates to their scientific training. The conference will celebrate its 37th year this June.

Under McGuire’s tenure, Loyola shifted from a local school to regional, a commuter school to residential, and from a single-sex school to co-ed. McGuire was a forward thinker, especially when it came to graduate programs, which he oversaw as dean of enrollment management, graduate division.

“He was a great visionary and always forward thinking. He had a phrase he frequently said when talking about vision and mission. ‘Please remember the pendulum always swings back the other way and you have to be prepared for that,’” said Rita Steiner, director of records.

For Steiner, McGuire was a mentor. He took a personal interest in everyone at Loyola – students and employees – learning their names and their stories. Even after McGuire retired in 1997, Steiner still called on him for his great memory.

In 1985, McGuire was awarded the Carroll Medal for being a distinguished alum. In 1997, he was awarded the President’s Medal for his dedication to Loyola.

“Frank was a wonderful man. He takes first prize for being a devoted Loyola employee. Everything he did was for the success of Loyola,” said Mark Lindenmeyer, interim vice president for enrollment management.

 

Arrangements:

Visitation
Friday, Feb. 1, 2019
2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 York Road

Funeral Mass
Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019
11 a.m.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Loyola University Maryland at 4501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210.