DePaul's 9th president and chancellor emeritus, The Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M., is relocating to the Vincentian retirement residence in Perryville, Missouri. A prolific writer, he published his most recent book "Readings In Catholic School Teaching" in 2015. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)
After 64 years at DePaul, the Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M., has decided to relocate to St. Mary's of the Barrens, a Vincentian retirement residence in Perryville, Missouri. Fr. Richardson joined DePaul in 1954 as dean of the Graduate School. He served as the 9th president of DePaul from 1981-93 and chancellor from 1993-2017, at which time he became chancellor emeritus.
"Fr. Richardson was one of the first people I met when I came to DePaul, and I'll always be grateful for the time I shared with one of the university's most respected and renowned leaders," says A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., DePaul's 12th president.
The Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M., spoke at the 10th annual Emeritus Society Luncheon on May 24. The university honored his legacy at DePaul before he relocates to Perryville, Missouri in June. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)
During his tenure as president, Fr. Richardson led an historic expansion of the university. He raised the university's academic stature and strengthened DePaul's impact on the city of Chicago. Under his leadership, the university embarked on its unprecedented $100 million Cornerstone Campaign, resulting in major expansions of DePaul's campuses in both the Loop and Lincoln Park. He was instrumental in the acquisition of the Blackstone Theatre, which later became the Merle Reskin Theatre, as well as the purchase of the Goldblatt's department store building, now known as the DePaul Center. Construction on the university's first free-standing library on the Lincoln Park Campus also began during his presidency.
"For more than half a century, DePaul has been blessed with Fr. Richardson's leadership, wisdom and guidance," Dr. Esteban says. "His vision and focus on the university's Catholic, Vincentian mission to provide a quality education to students of all backgrounds made DePaul the excellent institution it is today. We thank him and wish him much peace and happiness as he settles into his new home in Perryville."
The university celebrated Fr. Richardson at the 10th annual DePaul Emeritus Society Spring Luncheon in May.
If you would like to send a note of appreciation to Fr. Richardson, you may write him at:
The Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M.
St. Mary's of the Barrens
1701 W. St. Joseph St.
Perryville, MO
63775-1599