Rev. Dumas L. McCleary, CSV, died on Friday, November 30, 1984. Father McCleary died at the age of 77 in the 52nd year of his religious profession and the 45th year of his priesthood.
Dumas McCleary entered the novitiate in 1931 and made his first profession of vows the following year. Having had six years of experience in the business world as a car salesman and an office manager in Mattoon, Illinois, Brother McCleary pursued a Bachelor’s degree in commerce at St. Viator College. He later earned a Master’s degree in accounting and a Ph.D. in economics at the Catholic University of America.
Father McCleary was ordained to the priesthood in 1938. Although his doctoral thesis was on “Parish Accounting” he spent only one year of his apostolate in parish ministry.
In 1940 Dumas was appointed director of the Don Bosco Home for delinquent boys in Brighton, Michigan. The following year he began his long career in the academic world by teaching at Cathedral Boys’ High School and at Springfield Junior College.
Having completed his doctorate in 1947, he spent five years on the faculty at the Catholic University. From 1952 to 1955 he was director of the Department of Business Administration at Fournier Institute and in 1955 he began a seventeen year tenure as Professor of Accounting at Loyola University in Chicago.
Dumas was forced into retirement in 1972 by a paralyzing stroke and a long series of medical problems. Part of his recuperation was spent at Pistakee Bay with a fishing pole and an outboard motor. His later years were spent on Pratt Avenue and eventually at the Province Center where he was able to enjoy his favorite pastime – “the sporting life.”
A wake was held at the Province Center on Sunday, December 2, 1984 from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. There was a prayer service at 7:30 P.M. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at the Province Center on Monday, December 3, 1984 at 9:30 A.M. Burial was in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.
Please remember Father McCleary in prayer and celebrate in a Eucharistic liturgy for the repose of his soul.
Taken from a letter to the Viatorian Community from the Provincial, Rev. Patrick W. Render, CSV