In Remembrance: Michael J. Conaton & Rev. Theodore C. Ross, S.J.

The story below was originally published in The Athenaeum, MTSM’s bi-annual magazine. The Athenaeum is published twice a year for alumni, patrons and friends of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. To be added to the mailing list, contact: Heidi Walsh at 513.233.6159 or hwalsh@athenaeum.edu.

Mr. Michael J. Conaton – 1933-2024

On April 22, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology lost one of its greatest benefactors and friends with the passing of Mr. Michael J. Conaton. He was 90 years old. In showing what he meant to MTSM, the celebrant of the Mass (Rev. Edward P. Smith) and three concelebrants (Rev. Gerald R. Haemmerle, Rev. Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh and Very Rev. Anthony R. Brausch) were Presidents and Rectors of the institution.

“Mike will be greatly missed by the Athenaeum community,” Fr. Brausch said. “When you got to know him, you quickly realized that Semper fidelis really did define him and his strength of character. We were blessed to have him as such a good friend of the Seminary.”

Conaton served on the MTSM Board of Trustees from 1992 until his passing. During his time on the Board, he served in a leadership role for every major fundraising initiative. The highlight of those efforts was serving as the Co-Chair for the Investing in Our Future, Preserving Our Legacy campaign in 2009-14, which raised more than $19 million for the institution.

During the campaign, Conaton made a lead gift of $1,000,000 used in part to establish the Vocations and Student Recruitment Endowment at MTSM, enabling the education programs to have the resources needed to recruit and bring in students to both the Seminary and Lay Pastoral programs.

He also served as the Co-Chair of the Legacy Campaign from 2002-05, which raised more than $21 million dollars in conjunction with MTSM’s 175th Anniversary. Conaton himself made a $250,000 contribution to the effort.

In 2017 he made a $150,000 contribution to the Seminary Building Expansion Project that led to the building of Fenwick Hall.

Over his lifetime, Conaton gave more than $1.7 million to MTSM.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on August 3, 1933 and growing up in Indianapolis, Indiana, Conaton attended Xavier University, where he played football and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in political science. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps, being stationed in Cincinnati and Albia, Iowa until 1961.

He joined The Midland Company in 1961, where he would work until his retirement in 2006. His time at Midland rise up the ranks to hold roles including Treasurer, Chief Finance Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman.

In addition to MTSM, Conaton was a member of a variety of non-profit boards, including St. Vincent de Paul, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the UC Economics Board, the Metropolitan Club and Xavier University. The legacy he left at his alma mater is unmatched; he spent more than 30 years as a member of Xavier’s Board of Trustees, including 18 years as the Chairman of the Board and a brief stint in 1990 as the Interim President of the University.

Conaton was survived by his wife Nancy (nee Kelley), children Cathy (Doug) Matthews, Mike (Margaret), Peggy (Tad) Berger, and Betsy (Dan) Shannon and step-children James (Tina) Kelley and Jeff Kelley. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret (nee Cannon) and daughter Macaira.

Rev. Theodore “Ted” C. Ross, S.J. – 1934-2024

Rev. Theodore C. Ross, S.J., a long-time Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at MTSM passed away on April 14, 2024. He was 89 years old.

“Fr. Ross was a great teacher, story teller and humorist,” Rev. David J. Endres, Ph.D., Dean of The Athenaeum of Ohio and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary said. “He loved the Church and the priesthood, and he communicated that to his students through his words and the way he lived his life.”

“Fr. Ted”, as he was known to many who learned from him, taught both Seminarians and lay students in Cincinnati for 17 years, the final stop of a teaching career that also saw him work at many other seminaries and schools of theology, including Bellarmine School of Theology in North Aurora, Illinois, the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago, the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. In addition, he taught Theology at Loyola University Chicago and History at St. Ignatius High School in Detroit and University of Detroit Jesuit High School.

Fr. Ted enrolled in the Society of Jesuits while at Xavier University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in History during his time at XU. In addition, Fr. Ted held a Licentiate in Philosophy from West Baden College, a Licentiate in Theology from Bellarmine School of Theology and Masters of History and Theology from Loyola University Chicago.