Fr. Leo F. Weber, SJ '44

Fr. Leo F. Weber, SJ ’44, passed away on February 3, 2025 at the age of 98 in St. Louis. 

Fr. Leo served as rector at Regis Jesuit High School from 1981-84 and assistant to the president from 2002-05. He was then appointed to the school’s Council of Regents from 2008-22. Fr. Leo’s brothers Joseph ‘42, also a Jesuit, Francis (Frank) ’45 preceded him in death. He was also uncle to Paul ’75, Greg ’77 and Richard ’86 Weber, Frank’s sons.

“Leo Weber was born in Denver on April 12, 1926. After graduating from Regis Jesuit High School, he entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, on August 8, 1943. He pronounced his first vows on August. 15, 1945, and was ordained a priest on June 18, 1956. He pronounced his final vows at St. John’s College in Belize City, Belize, on November 6, 1971.

"Fr. Weber’s long and illustrious apostolic life was centered in Belize, Denver and province administration for the former Missouri Province. He was a legend in Belize and truly loved its people. In 2023, the Belize governor general conferred on him the Order of Distinction for his contributions to education.

"In the middle of his apostolic life, Fr. Weber was tapped for service to the former Missouri Province – as assistant for international apostolates and province planning (1971-73) and assistant for formation (1972-73), before being chosen as provincial in 1973. As he finished his term, Saint Louis University bestowed an honorary doctorate on him in 1979.” Read the full obituary.

For decades, Fr. Leo lived out a calling to the Jesuits he heard early in life. His final pastoral assignment was as chaplain at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver where he served from 2005-17. When he turned 90 in 2016, the AJHS community marked this milestone with a schoolwide celebration complete with special t-shirts depicting him with his daily request of students: “Try to be good!” and even a papal blessing from Pope Francis. Even in his later years, Fr. Leo’s impact on students was clearly evident.

Fr. Leo’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 8, at 2:00 pm, following a 1:00 pm visitation, at the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple at St. Louis University High School in St. Louis. Burial will take place on Monday, February 10 at 10:00 am at Calvary Cemetery. The Mass will also be livestreamed at bit.ly/fr-leo-weber-funeral. 

Memorial gifts in his name may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or online at www.JesuitsCentralSouthern.org.

We join the prayers of the community of Regis Jesuit with yours for the repose of Fr. Leo's soul and the consolation of his family and all those who loved him. May he rest in peace.