Thomas  F. McMahon Personal Papers

Fr. Thomas F. McMahon, CSV, was born in Chicago, Illinois, September 4, 1928 and was the son of the late Robert J. and Estelle McMahon. Fr. McMahon attended St. George High School in Evanston, Illinois (1942-46). He pronounced his First Vows as a Viatorian on October 14, 1947 and his Final Vows on October 14, 1950. He graduated from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa with a degree in philosophy in 1950. In addition to his regular studies, Fr. McMahon spent three summers studying at Notre Dame University in South Bend, the Sorbonne in Paris, and Institute Catholique in Paris. It was before beginning his formal studies in Rome that he taught for one year at Cathedral Boy’s High School in Springfield, Illinois. In 1951, he was assigned to University of St. Thomas Aquinas “the Angelicum” in Rome, Italy where he completed STB, STL and STD degrees in Moral Theology. Cardinal Traglia ordained Fr. McMahon priest on September 18, 1954 in Rome. Upon his return from Rome in 1957, Fr. McMahon taught at the Viatorian Seminary in Evanston while residing at the Viatorian Novitiate in Arlington Heights. In 1961 was assigned to the new Viatorian Seminary in Washington, DC where he was Dean of Studies and teacher of moral theology until 1971. During his years in Washington, he studied as a part time student at George Washington University where he earned his MBA degree in management and marketing. He was granted sabbatical leave during 1967 to do research at the Cambridge Center for Social Studies in Massachusetts. In 1970, the Viatorian Seminary became part of the Washington Theological Coalition where Fr. McMahon served as professor and Dean of the Viatorian Seminary. Besides his teaching duties in Washington, on weekends, he was chaplain for the United States Navy Communications Station (1961-66). In the summer of 1969, he served as expert at the Viatorian General Chapter in Rome. In 1971, Fr. McMahon became Associate Professor of Business Law at Loyola University, Chicago. In 1975, he became full professor of Socio-Legal studies. From 1982 until 1990, he directed the Loyola Center for Values in Business. After those years, he was named Professor of Management, a position he held until his retirement in 1999. From the year 2000 until his death on November 22, 2004 at the age of 76, Fr. McMahon resided at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights and most recently at the Ballard Parc Healthcare Residence in Des Plaines.

Note written by From letter to the Viatorian Community from the Provincial, Rev. Charles G. Bolser, CSV.