Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Clarence Raphael Durbin CSC

Aug. 8, 1913 - March 12, 2008

South Bend Tribune 3/15/2008
SOUTH BEND - The Rev. Clarence Raphael Durbin, CSC, passed away on March 12, 2008 at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, after a brief illness. He was 94 years old. Fr. Durbin was born in Tulsa, OK August 8, 1913, to Charles and Allie Mary (McCright) Durbin He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Holy Family High School before graduating in 1931 from Tulsa Central. Clarence grew up on his own. When he was a bit more than 5 years old his mother died after giving birth to a baby brother who also died a few months later. His father, who worked in the oil business, moved from Tulsa with two younger brothers, when Clarence was in high school. Having a job managing a local theater Clarence remained and finished high school taking up residence in a hotel. In his free time Clarence made extra money by caddying at a local country club. As a lad he carried bags for many of the game's early stars and developed a life-long love of the links. He also was a ballroom dance instructor and known about town as the young man who was a dapper dresser. After high school, still living in the hotel and working for the theater, he took finance and accounting classes at the American Institute of Banking. In 1935, after study at the Oklahoma School of Accounting, Law & Finance, he earned his C.P.A. certification. Following a year of work in a local bank he entered St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, August 15, 1936 joining the Congregation of Holy Cross. Clarence made his first vows the next year on August 16 and moved to Moreau Seminary for studies at Notre Dame. Upon graduating from Notre Dame he moved to Washington, D.C. for theological training at Holy Cross College.

He was ordained 4 years later in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame on June 10, 1945. After a year of graduate work at Harvard in the field of economics he was assigned to teach at the University of Portland. He served on the Bluff from 1946 to 1959. During that time he moved the financial operations of the University from envelopes and cigar boxes to a modern accounting system. He served that university as Business Manager and Controller in addition to teaching duties and weekend parish assignments. In 1959, Fr. Durbin moved to Notre Dame were he served as teacher, varsity golf coach and rector. He was in charge of St. Edward Hall from 1959 to 1970 when he moved to a room on the second floor of the Presbytery. He lived in that room until September of 2004 when declining health made necessary his move to Holy Cross House. Fr. Durbin was named a Fellow of Claremont Graduate School in 1953: served as president of the NCAA Golf Coaches Association 1968-69; and was an innovator in teaching the economics of consumption and other environmentally related themes. As golf coach he took the Irish team to the NCAA finals. He retired from teaching at Notre Dame in 1978 but taught in the Forever Learning Institute until 1989 when he closed his briefcase for good. Fr. Durbin was preceded in death by his parents, Charles A. and Allie Mary (McCright) Durbin and brothers.

Viewing will be held for Fr. Durbin in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary, University of Notre Dame, on Sunday, March 16, from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of The Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Indiana on Monday, March 17th, at 3:30 p.m. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions to support the mission and ministries of the Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, may be made to Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, In 46556.