The longest-serving president in the history of Loyola University of New Orleans has died.
Rev. James Carter died at his home in Florissant, Missouri, on Friday. He was 98.
According to Loyola officials, Carter recently celebrated his 81st anniversary as a Jesuit. Nearly 60 of those years were spent at Loyola.
Carter was born in New York, but he was raised in Louisiana. He first came to Loyola as a student. After his ordination in 1958, he returned to his alma mater to teach physics. In 1970, he was appointed as the university's provost and academic vice president. Four years later, he was named Loyola's 14th president, remaining in the post until 1995.
Even after retiring as Loyola's president, he remained a vital part of the university's operations. He served as Loyola's first chancellor, as pastor and superior of the university's Jesuit community, and as a part-time professor.
By 2020, Carter had retired to a life of prayer, first a senior home for Jesuits in Grand Coteau before moving to a home in Florissant. Carter will be laid to rest in nearby St. Louis next Saturday.
According to a statement released by the university, Carter "(guided) the university through a period of significant academic growth and institutional advancement while remaining steadfastly committed to Loyola’s Jesuit and Catholic identity."
“Father Carter embodied the very best of Loyola University New Orleans,” Loyola President Xavier A. Cole said. “His intellect, compassion, humility, and unwavering dedication to Jesuit education shaped generations of students and helped strengthen the foundation of this university for decades to come. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he impacted across Loyola and the broader New Orleans community.”
