Robert J. McEwen was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1916 to Robert J. and Mary Ellen (Aherne) McEwen and he had one brother, John. He attended Boston College High School and in 1934, McEwen entered the Society of Jesus where he continued his religious and secondary education at Weston College. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Boston College in 1940, a Master's in Economics from Fordham University in 1943, a licentiate in sacred theology from Weston College in 1947, and his Doctorate in Economics from Boston College in 1957. McEwen became interested in the consumer movement while completing his dissertation on the relationship between fair trade laws and the Catholic theological and social ethics teaching on just prices.

McEwen's teaching career spanned fifty years at Boston College. He began teaching in the Economics Department in 1948 as an instructor, became an assistant professor in 1952 and chaired the department from 1957 to 1970. During his tenure as department chair, McEwen helped to grow the department and was responsible for hiring Alice Bourneuf in 1959. McEwen taught at Boston College until his death. Many of his courses sought to link consumer issues and social responsibility. He also taught economics courses at Loyola University of Los Angeles as a visiting professor in 1962.

McEwen was a prominent participant in numerous local, state, federal, and corporate consumer organizations and an advocate for many consumer interests, including fair trade and the social responsibilities of businesses. He played an important role in the founding of the Massachusetts Consumers' Council in 1963, the Consumer Federation of America in 1967, and the Conference of Consumer Organizations in 1973. He served as an active member of consumer organizations including the Association of Massachusetts Consumers, the American Council on Consumer Interests, the Consumers Union, and others. In addition, McEwen served on a variety of state, corporate, and federal advisory councils. At the federal level, he served on the Federal Reserve Board's Consumer Advisory Council; the Medical Assistance Advisory Council for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare; the Advisory Council for the Consumer Product Safety Commission; and the National Motor Vehicle Safety Advisory Council. At the corporate level, McEwen served on the advisory council for AT&T in the late 1970s through the 1990s and on the New England Consumer Appeals Board for the Ford Motor Company from 1983 to 1989. In many of these organizations McEwen held the position of president or chairman. McEwen also spoke at numerous consumer conferences and events and gave testimonies and statements before Congressional and state committees. He wrote articles, editorials, and book reviews on consumer issues.

McEwen continued to carry out his duties as a Jesuit and priest throughout his life. He became involved in a Jesuit conference on the social apostolate. As a priest, McEwen gave sermons at the Masses he conducted and he officiated at several funerals and weddings.

He died while visiting relatives in Ireland on May 15, 1996.

Sources:

Long, Tom. "Rev. Robert McEwen, 79, Jesuit founded state Consumer Council." The Boston Globe, May 23, 1996.

"Long-time economics prof. Robert McEwen, SJ, dies." Boston College Chronicle, Vol. 4, No. 18, May 24, 1996.