Feb.
24, 1929 - Jan. 29, 2010SOUTH BEND - Much beloved husband, father, philosopher and author - Dr. Ralph M. McInerny, 80, residing at Holy Cross Village in Notre Dame, IN, died at 6:24 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2010, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital, Mishawaka, IN. On January 3, 1953, in Minneapolis, he married his devoted Connie, the former Constance Kunert, who preceded him in death on May 18, 2002, and with whom he raised a family of seven children. Preceding him in death were a son, Michael, and a brother, Austin. Ralph McInerny was born February 24, 1929, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Austin and Vivian (Rush) McInerny. After service in the Marine Corps (1946-47), he eventually earned degrees from St. Paul Seminary, the University of Minnesota, and finally a doctoral degree from Laval University in Quebec. After teaching one year at Creighton University, he arrived at the University of Notre Dame in 1955, where he served as a member of the philosophy department for the next 53 years before retiring in 2009. From 1978 Dr. McInerny held Notre Dame's Michael P. Grace Chair in Medieval Studies, and was the director of Notre Dame's Jacques Maritain Center from 1978 to 2006. A world-renowned expert in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, Dr. McInerny was author of two dozen scholarly books and many more dozens of scholarly essays. In his spare time, he penned over fifty novels, including the acclaimed Father Dowling mystery series. He also founded, edited, and wrote for "Crisis," a journal of lay Catholic opinion, as well as developed a variety of other apostolic projects in service to the church. He was also a published poet. Among the many honors he received, he was a fellow of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, the recipient of the Bouchercon Lifetime Achievement Award for mystery writing, and a member of President George W. Bush's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. His devotion to his Catholic faith and the Catholic intellectual life was an inspiration to countless students, colleagues and faithful throughout the world. His legendary wit, his charm, and the joyful confidence with which he pursued every aspect of his multi-faceted calling made him an extraordinary husband, father, teacher, writer and friend. Dr. McInerny is survived by four daughters, Cathleen (Michael) Brownell of North Barrington, IL, Mary (Tom) Hosford of Baltimore, MD, Anne (Chris) Policinski of Wayzata, MN, and Beth (Paul) Hark of Inver Grove Heights, MN; two sons, David (Nancy) McInerny of Overland Park, KS, and Daniel (Amy) McInerny of Waco, TX; and 17 grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Mary Margaret Williams of Springfield, MA, and Teresa (Michael) Coloumbe of Lacrosse, WI; as well as five brothers, Roger (Lou) McInerny of Minneapolis, MN, Raymond (Jean) McInerny of New Berlin, WI, Dennis Q. McInerny of Lincoln, NE, Maurice (Diane) McInerny of Minneapolis, MN, and Stephen (Margaret) McInerny of Minneapolis, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2010, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, IN. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. today, January 31, 2010, in the Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where a Rosary will be said at 2:00 p.m., with a wake service to follow at 4:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy on behalf of Dr. McInerny may be offered to the Women's Care Center, 360 N. Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617. Online condolences may be sent to the McInerny family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.