William J. Kenealy, SJ was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 30, 1904, to William Edward and Mary Agnes (Fay) Kenealy. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1922 and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1934.

Kenealy began his post-secondary education at Boston College, where he earned an A.B. and M.A. in 1928 and 1929. He was initially a member of the inaugural class at Boston College Law School, though he completed his law studies at the Gregorian University in Rome, receiving a Ph.D. there in 1932. He also received a licentiate in sacred theology from Weston College in 1935 and a bachelor of laws from Georgetown University in 1939.

After completing his education, Kenealy became dean and professor of law at Boston College Law School from 1939-1956. He took leave from 1942-1945 to serve as a chaplain in the United States Navy during World War II; he was stationed aboard the USS California in the Pacific. Upon his return to Boston College, he initiated the Post-War Program to help veterans interested in studying law. During his tenure as dean the Law School grew its faculty and its library; began admitting women students; began publishing a law review; and moved to the purpose-built St.Thomas More Hall on the Brighton Campus from its downtown Boston location.

Kenealy took a position as a visiting professor of law at Loyola University of New Orleans, followed by Loyola University of Chicago, between 1956 and 1963, after which he returned to the faculty at Boston College Law School. His scholarship focused on social justice; church and state relations; and law and morals. He was a strong advocate for civil rights and desegregation.

In 1968 Kenealy left teaching to head the new Jesuit Social Apostolate National Office in Washington, D.C. Over the next few years he joined the New England Province Forum of the Society of Jesus, and became an inaugural member of the National Committee for Human Development, which oversaw distribution of grants from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Campaign for Human Development (CHD), an anti-poverty effort funded by an annual parish collection. Kenealy also began serving on the Board of Trustees at both Boston College (a position he also held from 1946-1956) and Wheeling College starting in 1970.

Kenealy fought cancer for the last few years of his life, and he died on February 3, 1974. He was honored posthumously at Boston College Law School through the Rev. William J. Kenealy, SJ Professorship, which was created in 2008 through a gift of Law School's Class of 1974, and the William J. Kenealy, SJ Alumnus of the Year Award given by the Law School Alumni Association.

Sources:

Buchanan, William. "Fr. Kenealy of BC Law." Boston Globe (1960-1986), February 4, 1974.

“Continuity and Change.” Boston College Law School Magazine. Fall 1992.

Curriculum vitae, Box 9, Folder 3, William J. Kenealy, SJ papers, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

“Boston College Law Prof, Leading Tax Scholar James Repetti Named Inaugural Holder Of Professorship Honoring Former Dean William J. Kenealy, SJ.” Boston College press release. 2008 September 17.