Born in Scranton, Father Pantle grew up in Scranton’s South Side and East Mountain neighborhoods, the son of the late George and Helen Miller Pantle and brother to Mary Anne Pantle Sacco. Some of his elementary school years were spent at Nativity of Our Lord School, an experience that was his first close-up encounter with people in religious life. “I was very impressed by the nuns,” he said.
After graduating from Scranton Central High School, he attended the University of Scranton for two years. “Through the influence of the Jesuits, I decided to become a Jesuit. We had a wonderful Latin and Greek teacher – I talked to him about it,” he said.
Father Pantle entered the Society of Jesus in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1960. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College and a master’s degree from Middlebury College/Mainz University. He furthered his studies at Woodstock College, Georgetown University, Goethe-Instiutu (in Germany), American University and Berkeley College.
Before returning to Scranton, Father Pantle taught at Loyola High School, St. Isaac Jogues College and Gonzaga High School. He also served for nine years as superior of Jesuits studying or teaching at Catholic University.
A city native, Father Pantle came to the University in 1980 to spend time at the Retreat Center at Chapman Lake to recover from an illness. The Rev. William J. Bryon, S.J., the University’s president at the time, asked him to stay on to direct the center and to teach on campus. Father Pantle led retreats at Chapman Lake for nearly 25 years and taught German and Spanish in the World Languages and Cultures Department. He also served as a director of Fayette House, a residence that for many years was designated for students interested in learning Spanish to aid them in their careers.
Along the way, he was co-moderator of the International Students Club, and chaplain to the Women of the University Prayer Group and the baseball, basketball and soccer teams. This is all in addition to the numerous student trips abroad he led.
“The University has changed so much over the years, for the good,” he said. “I’m very proud that we remain a Jesuit and Catholic school.” “One of the great joys, too, was that I had so much family here in Scranton,” he added. The Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J., calls his time at The University of Scranton “a special grace from God.”
Along the way, the University has shown its appreciation for his service. He received the Beining Award from the Athletics Department for his support and “ministry of presence.” In 1998, the Scranton Jesuit Community established the Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J. Scholarship at the University. And, in 2010, the University named its garden at the corner of Linden Street and Monroe Avenue the Rev. G. Donald Pantle S.J. Rose Garden, in honor of his service to the institution.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Father Pantle said in a recent interview on his last day in Scranton. “The students loved being with the Jesuits, and the experience was very important to them.”
The longtime Jesuit recently left campus to retire to the St. Claude la Colombiere Jesuit Community Residence in Maryland, after 34 years of service at the University. In that time, he built a legacy of fostering spirituality through retreats and spiritual exercises.“I think the lesson of my life has been to never treat people according to their titles or lack of titles, but to treat them as human beings,” Father Pantle reflected. “And to spend all my time loving and forgiving, because that is the message of Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
After graduating from Scranton Central High School, he attended the University of Scranton for two years. “Through the influence of the Jesuits, I decided to become a Jesuit. We had a wonderful Latin and Greek teacher – I talked to him about it,” he said.
Father Pantle entered the Society of Jesus in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1960. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College and a master’s degree from Middlebury College/Mainz University. He furthered his studies at Woodstock College, Georgetown University, Goethe-Instiutu (in Germany), American University and Berkeley College.
Before returning to Scranton, Father Pantle taught at Loyola High School, St. Isaac Jogues College and Gonzaga High School. He also served for nine years as superior of Jesuits studying or teaching at Catholic University.
A city native, Father Pantle came to the University in 1980 to spend time at the Retreat Center at Chapman Lake to recover from an illness. The Rev. William J. Bryon, S.J., the University’s president at the time, asked him to stay on to direct the center and to teach on campus. Father Pantle led retreats at Chapman Lake for nearly 25 years and taught German and Spanish in the World Languages and Cultures Department. He also served as a director of Fayette House, a residence that for many years was designated for students interested in learning Spanish to aid them in their careers.
Along the way, he was co-moderator of the International Students Club, and chaplain to the Women of the University Prayer Group and the baseball, basketball and soccer teams. This is all in addition to the numerous student trips abroad he led.
“The University has changed so much over the years, for the good,” he said. “I’m very proud that we remain a Jesuit and Catholic school.” “One of the great joys, too, was that I had so much family here in Scranton,” he added. The Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J., calls his time at The University of Scranton “a special grace from God.”
Along the way, the University has shown its appreciation for his service. He received the Beining Award from the Athletics Department for his support and “ministry of presence.” In 1998, the Scranton Jesuit Community established the Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J. Scholarship at the University. And, in 2010, the University named its garden at the corner of Linden Street and Monroe Avenue the Rev. G. Donald Pantle S.J. Rose Garden, in honor of his service to the institution.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Father Pantle said in a recent interview on his last day in Scranton. “The students loved being with the Jesuits, and the experience was very important to them.”
The longtime Jesuit recently left campus to retire to the St. Claude la Colombiere Jesuit Community Residence in Maryland, after 34 years of service at the University. In that time, he built a legacy of fostering spirituality through retreats and spiritual exercises.“I think the lesson of my life has been to never treat people according to their titles or lack of titles, but to treat them as human beings,” Father Pantle reflected. “And to spend all my time loving and forgiving, because that is the message of Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
Born in Scranton, Father Pantle grew up in Scranton’s South Side and East Mountain neighborhoods, the son of the late George and Helen Miller Pantle and brother to Mary Anne Pantle Sacco. Some of his elementary school years were spent at Nativity of Our Lord School, an experience that was his first close-up encounter with people in religious life. “I was very impressed by the nuns,” he said.
After graduating from Scranton Central High School, he attended the University of Scranton for two years. “Through the influence of the Jesuits, I decided to become a Jesuit. We had a wonderful Latin and Greek teacher – I talked to him about it,” he said.
Father Pantle entered the Society of Jesus in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1960. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College and a master’s degree from Middlebury College/Mainz University. He furthered his studies at Woodstock College, Georgetown University, Goethe-Instiutu (in Germany), American University and Berkeley College.
Before returning to Scranton, Father Pantle taught at Loyola High School, St. Isaac Jogues College and Gonzaga High School. He also served for nine years as superior of Jesuits studying or teaching at Catholic University.
A city native, Father Pantle came to the University in 1980 to spend time at the Retreat Center at Chapman Lake to recover from an illness. The Rev. William J. Bryon, S.J., the University’s president at the time, asked him to stay on to direct the center and to teach on campus. Father Pantle led retreats at Chapman Lake for nearly 25 years and taught German and Spanish in the World Languages and Cultures Department. He also served as a director of Fayette House, a residence that for many years was designated for students interested in learning Spanish to aid them in their careers.
Along the way, he was co-moderator of the International Students Club, and chaplain to the Women of the University Prayer Group and the baseball, basketball and soccer teams. This is all in addition to the numerous student trips abroad he led.
“The University has changed so much over the years, for the good,” he said. “I’m very proud that we remain a Jesuit and Catholic school.” “One of the great joys, too, was that I had so much family here in Scranton,” he added. The Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J., calls his time at The University of Scranton “a special grace from God.”
Along the way, the University has shown its appreciation for his service. He received the Beining Award from the Athletics Department for his support and “ministry of presence.” In 1998, the Scranton Jesuit Community established the Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J. Scholarship at the University. And, in 2010, the University named its garden at the corner of Linden Street and Monroe Avenue the Rev. G. Donald Pantle S.J. Rose Garden, in honor of his service to the institution.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Father Pantle said in a recent interview on his last day in Scranton. “The students loved being with the Jesuits, and the experience was very important to them.”
The longtime Jesuit recently left campus to retire to the St. Claude la Colombiere Jesuit Community Residence in Maryland, after 34 years of service at the University. In that time, he built a legacy of fostering spirituality through retreats and spiritual exercises.“I think the lesson of my life has been to never treat people according to their titles or lack of titles, but to treat them as human beings,” Father Pantle reflected. “And to spend all my time loving and forgiving, because that is the message of Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
After graduating from Scranton Central High School, he attended the University of Scranton for two years. “Through the influence of the Jesuits, I decided to become a Jesuit. We had a wonderful Latin and Greek teacher – I talked to him about it,” he said.
Father Pantle entered the Society of Jesus in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1960. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College and a master’s degree from Middlebury College/Mainz University. He furthered his studies at Woodstock College, Georgetown University, Goethe-Instiutu (in Germany), American University and Berkeley College.
Before returning to Scranton, Father Pantle taught at Loyola High School, St. Isaac Jogues College and Gonzaga High School. He also served for nine years as superior of Jesuits studying or teaching at Catholic University.
A city native, Father Pantle came to the University in 1980 to spend time at the Retreat Center at Chapman Lake to recover from an illness. The Rev. William J. Bryon, S.J., the University’s president at the time, asked him to stay on to direct the center and to teach on campus. Father Pantle led retreats at Chapman Lake for nearly 25 years and taught German and Spanish in the World Languages and Cultures Department. He also served as a director of Fayette House, a residence that for many years was designated for students interested in learning Spanish to aid them in their careers.
Along the way, he was co-moderator of the International Students Club, and chaplain to the Women of the University Prayer Group and the baseball, basketball and soccer teams. This is all in addition to the numerous student trips abroad he led.
“The University has changed so much over the years, for the good,” he said. “I’m very proud that we remain a Jesuit and Catholic school.” “One of the great joys, too, was that I had so much family here in Scranton,” he added. The Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J., calls his time at The University of Scranton “a special grace from God.”
Along the way, the University has shown its appreciation for his service. He received the Beining Award from the Athletics Department for his support and “ministry of presence.” In 1998, the Scranton Jesuit Community established the Rev. G. Donald Pantle, S.J. Scholarship at the University. And, in 2010, the University named its garden at the corner of Linden Street and Monroe Avenue the Rev. G. Donald Pantle S.J. Rose Garden, in honor of his service to the institution.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Father Pantle said in a recent interview on his last day in Scranton. “The students loved being with the Jesuits, and the experience was very important to them.”
The longtime Jesuit recently left campus to retire to the St. Claude la Colombiere Jesuit Community Residence in Maryland, after 34 years of service at the University. In that time, he built a legacy of fostering spirituality through retreats and spiritual exercises.“I think the lesson of my life has been to never treat people according to their titles or lack of titles, but to treat them as human beings,” Father Pantle reflected. “And to spend all my time loving and forgiving, because that is the message of Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
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