Creighton prep punster to be missed - no joke
BY MAHALIA ASANAENYI
You can accuse the Rev. Bill O'Leary of being a jokester, but don't call him a saint.
The Rev. Bill O'Leary is retiring as an Omaha Creighton Prep instructor but plans to remain on campus as the "good cop-bad cop" supervisor of detention hall. His legion of fans say he's more often "Mr. Softy" than "Mr. Tough Guy."The 78-year-old Omaha Creighton Prep instructor says he doesn't qualify.
"I'm mediocre and a little bit crazy," O'Leary said.
The distinction of being a saint should go to married couples that last more than a year together, he said.
O'Leary is good for gags — especially bad ones.
"Guess what I heard? I'm a sheepherder, I herd sheep," he said. "Guess what I saw? I'm a carpenter, I saw wood."
And he curses. In a moment of frustration, he'll say, "Look at that! Sunken ditch!"
To Creighton Prep alumni, he is an icon.
Over more than 43 years, the Jesuit priest has taught a dozen subjects at Creighton Prep, including English, world history, religion and Latin.
This fall, he is retiring from his teaching duties, although he will still be a presence at Prep.
"He is about as saintly a man as he could possibly be and still be walking on the face of Earth," said Pat Lacy, a 1970 Prep graduate.
Born in Milwaukee, O'Leary found his calling while attending Regis University in Denver.
After joining the Society of Jesus, he attended St. Louis University, where he received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and letters and a master's degree in modern European history. He also pursued a master's in theology at St. Mary College in Kansas.
Before joining the Prep staff in 1964, he taught at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., and St. Francis (S.D.) Indian Mission.
At Prep, he was known for his bald head, blue coat and bad jokes, and was revered for his teaching style.
"He always made class fun," said Connor Lacy, now a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame. He's one of three of Pat Lacy's sons who have attended Prep.
But what made O'Leary a spiritual model was his knack for bringing people to Christ with a lot of humor and a consistent display of kindness to others, said the Rev. Thomas Merkel, Prep president.
O'Leary has traveled across the nation — mainly by Greyhound bus — and ministered to the sick and poor.
"My motto is 'Have Bible, will travel,'" said O'Leary, adding that he enjoyed that change of pace from his Prep duties. "You meet (everyone) on the bus. Everyone has a story to tell."
"He's pretty amazing," Pat Lacy said. "He just had a way of making you feel really special."
His behavior doesn't come without controversy. He preaches love for terrorists, murderers and agents of genocide.
"Are you serious?" is most people's reaction, Merkel said. "The reality of Bill O'Leary is that he really believes that people like Osama (bin Laden) are worthy of God's love."
Though O'Leary is retiring, he plans to stay busy in the community and at Prep, where he will monitor the halls and check students for rogue shirttails.
He also plans to supervise at "Justice Under God," aka detention hall.
"I make them obey and tell them to shape up," O'Leary said. "I try to get a nice balance between being 'Mr. Tough Guy' and 'Mr. Softy.'"
He also is still filling his appointment book with weddings, Masses and funerals.
Ministering to people about God's love and grace has brought him his greatest joy, O'Leary said: "It fulfills me as a priest."
Original article (here)
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