Submitted by: Dan Rich
Nov. 25, 1924 - Oct. 29, 2008
South Bend Tribune 10/31/2008
SOUTH BEND - Rev. James L. Riehle, CSC, passed away on
October 29, 2008 at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN., after a
brief illness. He was 83 years old. Fr. Riehle was born in
Medford, MA November 25, 1924 to Louis C. Riehle and Matilda K.
Buckley (McFee) Riehle. He received his primary and
secondary education at St. Andrew's Grade School and High School
in Saginaw, MI. He studied for a year at Notre Dame, then at
Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He served in the Army from
1950 - 1952, worked for a book company in Detroit for several
years and entered Old College at Notre Dame in 1956. After a year
at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Jordan, MN, Fr. Riehle made his first
vows there on August 16, 1958, then returned to Notre Dame where
he graduated in 1960.
After four years of theology at Holy Cross
College, Washington, D.C., he was ordained to the priesthood on
June 10, 1964, in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. From
1964-1965, Fr. Riehle spent a year as Chaplain for Dillion Hall
at the University of Notre Dame. He then assisted at Sacred Heart
Parish, New Orleans from 1965 to 1966. In 1966, Fr. Riehle
returned to Notre Dame as the Assistant Dean of Students and
Rector of Sorin Hall. He assumed the Dean of Students post in
1967 and served in that capacity until 1973. Starting in 1973,
Fr. Riehle served as Chaplain for the Athletic Department at the
University of Notre Dame. For 12 years, from 1973 to 1985, Riehle
served as Rector of Pangborn Hall. Fr. Reihle also served as
Monogram Club Executive Director from 1978 through 2002, and then
continued to work with the club in an emeritus role. Fr. Riehle
moved to Holy Cross House on November 20, 2003. Fr. Riehle was
preceded in death by his parents Matilda and Louis Riehle and his
brother Louis Albert Riehle. He is survived by a sister, Joan
Elise Riehle Ruse (Ronald) of Frankfort, Illinois and a
step-brother, Paul Buckley of California. He also is
survived by several nieces and nephews and great nieces and
nephews.
Viewing will be held for Fr. Riehle in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary, University of Notre Dame, on Sunday, November 2nd, 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, November 3rd, 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.