Fr. Gerard Chapdelaine, SJ

Our beloved Fr. Gerard (Jerry) Chapdelaine, S.J. went home to the Lord late in the evening on Sunday March 23, 2025. He passed away peacefully with Jesuit brother Fr. Aaron Engebretson at his side, after a short battle with cancer. Fr. Jerry was a Jesuit for nearly 72 years and a priest for almost 59 years.

Fr. Jerry, one of seven siblings, was born on May 27, 1935, in Saint Gerard, Quebec, and was raised in Yakima, Washington. He joined the Jesuits in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1966. After his ordination, he served at the Loyola Renewal Center in Portland before returning to Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, where he had previously ministered during his formation for the priesthood. Even after many years of serving at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, he still loved those GPrep days, saying he would always have “a little Bullpup” in him.

Fr. Jerry’s final mission was his longest. He dedicated nearly four decades of service to Bellarmine Prep, first arriving in 1986. As a committed Jesuit educator, Fr. Jerry embraced multiple roles throughout his tenure, serving as a teacher, mentor, coach, chaplain and friend. His unwavering devotion to his faith and to those he guided was evident in the countless lives he touched. A compassionate and steadfast priest, he accompanied generations of students, alumni, and community members in their spiritual journeys. He joyfully officiated weddings, uniting former students and friends in marriage, and celebrated the baptisms of many, leaving a lasting impact on the Bellarmine community.

Fr. Jerry was a fighter, from his early days as a boxer to his last days as a priest. He always looked out for the “little ones,” especially those that others might not pay attention to and those who were struggling. He was also deeply committed to his family, including 17 nieces and nephews, to his Jesuit communities, where he often served as the religious superior, and to the People of God, who knew and loved him well. A common thread in all his relationships was his ability to welcome, encourage and affirm, letting everyone know: “You are Loved.”

He is survived by his Jesuit brothers, four sisters (Denise Brule, Therese Brulotte, Anita Kernie, and Elizabeth Chalupa) and 16 loving nieces and nephews. We will love and miss our Jesuit brother, uncle, brother, teacher, coach, mentor, chaplain and friend. Please join us in giving thanks to God for his vocation as a Jesuit priest and the many people whose lives he impacted.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

The Fr. Jerry Chapdelaine Scholarship Endowment at Bellarmine Preparatory School:https://www.bellarmineprep.org/giving/in-loving-memory-of-fr-jerry

The Senior Care Fund for the Jesuits West Province: https://www.jesuitswest.org/support-us/donate-now/

Services:

Vigil Prayer Service, Wed. April 9th at 7pm, Bellarmine Preparatory School, St. Ignatius Center, Booster Gym.

Funeral Mass, Thurs. April 10th at 11am, Bellarmine Preparatory School, St. Ignatius Center, Booster Gym.