Author. Though a respected scholar and a leading authority on the life and work of St. Thomas Aquinas, he is probably best remembered as the creator of the "Father Dowling" series of mysteries. Raised in Minnesota, he served in the US Marine Corps in 1946 and 1947. Following graduation from St. Paul Seminary in 1951, he took his master's from the University of Minnesota in 1952, then earned his Ph.D. at Quebec's Laval University in 1954. After teaching at Creighton University in Omaha for a year, McInerny joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1955, and was to remain until his 2009 retirement. As professor of philosophy and religion, he lectured widely while publishing a number of scholarly works, primarily dealing with the 13th Century theologian St. Thomas. McInerny directed the university's Medieval Institute from 1978 to 1985, and from 1979 to 2006 headed the Jacques Matitain Center, which is dedicated to study of the noted 20th Century philosopher and writer of that name. The professor's second career began in 1977 with the publication of "Her Death of Cold", the first of his roughly two dozen "Father Dowling" books. Approximately 100 novels followed, in differing groups: he had the "Notre Dame University" series featuring the "Knight Brothers", the "Sister Mary Teresa" series (written under the pen name "Monica Quill"), and the "Andrew Broom" novels. "Father Dowling" made it to the small screen on NBC and ABC from 1989 to 1991, with Tom Bosley in the title role. McInerny was honored in both his fields, receiving the American Catholic Philosophical Foundation's St. Thomas Aquinas Medal, and a lifetime achievement award (1993) at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. His last "Father Dowling" book, "Stained Glass", was released in October 2009, and a final novel, "Sham Rock" (a "Knight Brothers" mystery) was pending publication at his death.
Author. Though a respected scholar and a leading authority on the life and work of St. Thomas Aquinas, he is probably best remembered as the creator of the "Father Dowling" series of mysteries. Raised in Minnesota, he served in the US Marine Corps in 1946 and 1947. Following graduation from St. Paul Seminary in 1951, he took his master's from the University of Minnesota in 1952, then earned his Ph.D. at Quebec's Laval University in 1954. After teaching at Creighton University in Omaha for a year, McInerny joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1955, and was to remain until his 2009 retirement. As professor of philosophy and religion, he lectured widely while publishing a number of scholarly works, primarily dealing with the 13th Century theologian St. Thomas. McInerny directed the university's Medieval Institute from 1978 to 1985, and from 1979 to 2006 headed the Jacques Matitain Center, which is dedicated to study of the noted 20th Century philosopher and writer of that name. The professor's second career began in 1977 with the publication of "Her Death of Cold", the first of his roughly two dozen "Father Dowling" books. Approximately 100 novels followed, in differing groups: he had the "Notre Dame University" series featuring the "Knight Brothers", the "Sister Mary Teresa" series (written under the pen name "Monica Quill"), and the "Andrew Broom" novels. "Father Dowling" made it to the small screen on NBC and ABC from 1989 to 1991, with Tom Bosley in the title role. McInerny was honored in both his fields, receiving the American Catholic Philosophical Foundation's St. Thomas Aquinas Medal, and a lifetime achievement award (1993) at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. His last "Father Dowling" book, "Stained Glass", was released in October 2009, and a final novel, "Sham Rock" (a "Knight Brothers" mystery) was pending publication at his death.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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