Patrick Damien McAnany, 93, of Oak Park, died on Feb. 7, 2024, surrounded by family at Loyola Hospital in Maywood. Born on Feb. 28, 1930, in Kansas City, Kansas, along with his identical twin, Emile, who survives him, he was the son of Patrick Damien McAnany and Julia Rose neé Guignon, brother of the late Richard and John, and sister Julie.
He entered the Jesuits in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1963 with Emile. In 1970, he left the Society of Jesus to marry the love of his life, Charlaine Agnes (neé Rigamonti), who had been a nun in the Sisters of St. Mary. She survives him, along with his daughter, Clare Marie Kalemba (neé McAnany), and Damien McAnany Luce (Maggie Flemming Luce), and his grandchildren: Sebastian, Rose and Xavier Kalemba, and Vida and Silas Luce.
He had a lifelong love of law and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1960. He taught in the Law School at St. Louis University from 1966 to 1969 and helped to re-write the Illinois penal code from 1969 to 1971. He was a professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Illinois Chicago from 1971 to 1999 and head of the department from 1991 to 1996, adding a PhD program at the end of his tenure.
He has been an active member of Ascension Parish in Oak Park since 1971. A founding member of the Peace & Justice Committee for 40 years, his latest focus was on immigration. As chairman of the board of the Illinois Coalition to End the Death Penalty, he lobbied successfully for its abolition and also organized to help formerly incarcerated heroin addicts and domestic violence survivors, among many, many other causes.
Pat had a passion for history, and family history in particular. He researched extensively and wrote essays about his ancestors. This work can be found at McAnanyfamily.net.
At Ascension Church, East Avenue and Van Buren Street, on Friday, Feb. 16, visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at 11.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Catherine-St. Lucy & St Giles Parish, 1025 Columbian Av, Oak Park, IL 60302, Attn: Migrant Fund.