- Date Of Birth: June 10, 1939
- Date Of Death: September 21, 2022
- State: Indiana
Rev. Richard Victor Warner, C.S.C., 83, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN, on September 21, 2022.
Fr. Warner was born on June 10, 1939 in Cleveland, OH, to Victor Henry Warner and Vivian Rose Warner (Gallagher) and is the second oldest of four children. Fr. Warner attended St. Luke Elementary School and then went on to graduate from St. Edward High School, conducted by the Brothers of Holy Cross, in Lakewood, OH. After graduation in 1957, he entered the Holy Cross Seminary at the University of Notre Dame, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. He entered the Holy Cross Sacred Heart Novitiate in Jordan, MN, on August 16, 1959, professed final vows on August 16, 1962 and was ordained a Holy Cross priest on December 17, 1966. After graduation from Notre Dame in 1962, he studied theology at Catholic University in Santiago, Chile, receiving a Licentiate Degree in 1966.
From 1966 to 1973, Fr. Warner taught English and theology at St. George’s College in Santiago, Chile, where he also served in the administration. In 1973, he was assigned to be the Provincial Steward of the Indiana Province, a role he kept until being elected to the Provincial Superior in 1979, where he served for the next nine years. In 1988, Fr. Warner served as Counselor to Notre Dame President Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C. and in 1989, was appointed Director of Campus Ministry, serving in both roles until 2004. In 2004, Fr. Warner continued in his role as Director of Campus Ministry until 2010, when he was elected the 12th Superior General of Holy Cross. In 2016, Fr. Warner left Rome and returned to Notre Dame, IN, where he resided at Corby Hall until 2017, when he moved into Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN. For 27 years, Fr. Warner served as the Chairman of the Board of the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, IN, as well as Chairman of the Board of Memorial Health Systems for seven years. He also served as a Trustee and Fellow of the University of Notre Dame and Senior Pastoral Adviser with the Alliance for Catholic Education – Institute for Educational Initiatives. He also served on the Board of Regents at the University of Portland in Portland, OR.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Vivian Warner; and siblings Janet V. Twiggs (husband, Henry E. Twiggs) and Victor H. Warner, Jr. He is survived by his sister, Joanne M. Warner.
