Fr. James E. Michaletz, CSV, died April 10, 2019 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. He was 87 and had been a Viatorian for 67 years.
Fr. Michaletz was born Aug. 9, 1931, in Chicago, the son of Ernest and Philomena (Schafer) Michaletz, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his sisters Geraldine (August) Roller of Mt. Prospect and Roberta Michaletz of Chicago, along with many nieces and nephews.
He graduated in 1949 from St. Mel Catholic High School in Chicago and attended Northwestern University before pronouncing his first vows as a Viatorian on Sept. 8, 1952 in Arlington Heights. He entered the Viatorian Seminary in 1956, in Evanston and was ordained a priest in 1960. Fr. Michaletz earned a B.A. degree in chemistry from St. Ambrose College, along with an M.S. degree in organic chemistry and a Ph.D. degree in education, administration and supervision curriculum from Loyola University in Chicago.
Fr. Michaletz was on the founding faculty of Saint Viator High School, serving as a chemistry teacher (1961-64), assistant principal (1964-68) and principal (1968-72). From 1972 to 1975, he was superintendent of Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Rolling Meadows, before serving as Assistant Superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1973-75). He served as Co-Director of the Office of School Planning (1975-76) and Director of Planning (1976-77) for the Archdiocesan school system.
Fr Michaletz served as Director of Education and Director of Formation for the Viatorians before being named Director of Education for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (1985-91). He also served as an Assistant Professor of Education at Dominican University in River Forest from 1991 until 1998 before being named Associate Pastor at Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais. He retired to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, in 2011.
Visitation for Fr. Michaletz took place on Friday, April 12 from 4-8 p.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, both at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights. He was buried in the Viatorian section at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.