Campus Community / People of SU

Remembering John Morford, Former Education Dean

May 7, 2020

John Morford, former dean of the School of Education and founding director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, died this past Monday, May 4.

John Morford, former dean of the School of Education and founding director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, died this past Monday, May 4. John, who was 87 and in home hospice care for several months for a lung problem, died just over two weeks after the death of his wife, Jerene “Jerry,” also in home hospice care. John and Jerry met as students at Gonzaga University and reared a large family. 

John came to Seattle University from John Carroll University in Cleveland and served as dean of the school (now college) from 1973 to 1978. While still dean he helped design and served as the first director of the doctoral program, which he led for 14 years before retiring from Seattle University in 1992. 

Most important for John’s life was his Catholic faith, especially how Christian faith must show itself in service to and with the poor. He manifested this especially in his “retirement” as president of the Seattle/King County Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and as the director of the Blessed Sacrament Church Feed-In for the poor.

John’s family is planning to have a joint memorial for John and Jerry in the fall when conditions permit.