Individual Details

In memoriam: William G. Storey, professor emeritus of theology
by Michael O. Garvey, January 20, 2014
William G. Storey, professor emeritus of theology at the University of Notre Dame, died Jan. 16 after a brief illness. He was 90.
A native of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, Storey studied philosophy at the University of Western Ontario, earning undergraduate and master’s degrees there before enrolling at Notre Dame, where he studied in the Medieval Institute and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in 1954 and 1959, respectively. For 12 years before he joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1967, he taught at Duquesne University, chairing its history department and teaching courses in liturgy and church history.
In his first years at Notre Dame, Storey taught in the then-newly founded doctoral program in liturgical studies and designed the undergraduate program for theology majors. In addition to directing doctoral students in liturgy and theology, he taught popular and often overflowing undergraduate courses on classical writings of Western Christian mystics. His brilliance as a teacher was formally recognized in 1972, when he received Notre Dame’s Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award. Even after his retirement in 1985, Storey continued to direct doctoral students in liturgy for the next three years.
In 1980, with his partner, Philip Schatz, Storey purchased a large collection of used books and opened Erasmus Books, an eclectic bookstore in their home, a prairie-style house on East Wayne Street in South Bend, which soon became both an indispensable resource and a favorite gathering place for his former students and colleagues. One of them, Charles K. Wilber, professor emeritus of economics at Notre Dame, said, “I first met Bill 38 years ago when we were both teaching at Notre Dame, but I got to know him much better after he retired and opened Erasmus Books. He was a warm, loving person who happily answered all my questions from his treasure chest of knowledge on liturgy and prayer.”
In retirement, Storey composed, edited and and published several popular books of prayers, and before he died he asked his surviving family and friends to pray for the repose of his soul, suggesting, “They may like to use this prayer: ‘Heavenly Father, by the precious blood shed by your only Son on the cross of Cavalry for our salvation, and by the prayers of the great Mother of God, Mary most holy, and of all the saints gone before us, please forgive the sins of Bill Storey, committed by his own fault, in his thoughts and in his words, and by what he failed to do. We ask this through Christ our Lord.’”
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday (Jan. 24) at 6 p.m. at St. Hedwig Catholic Church (331 S. Scott St., South Bend). Visitation will precede the Mass beginning at 4 p.m.
Contributions in Storey’s memory may be made to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., Elkhart, IN 46514; or St. Margaret’s House, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601.

South Bend Tribune Report
SOUTH BEND — William G. Storey, a professor emeritus of theology at the University of Notre Dame and co-owner of Eramus Books at 1027 E. Wayne St., died Thursday after a brief illness. He was 90.
Storey was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and studied philosophy at the University of Western Ontario, earning undergraduate and master’s degrees there before enrolling at Notre Dame, where he earned master’s and doctoral degrees in 1954 and 1959. For 12 years before he joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1967, he taught at Duquesne University, chairing its history department and teaching courses in liturgy and church history.
At Notre Dame, Storey taught in the doctoral program in liturgical studies and designed the undergraduate program for theology majors. In 1972, he received Notre Dame’s Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award. After retirement in 1985, Storey continued to direct doctoral students for the next three years.
Storey was the father of seven children, five of whom survive him. He also is survived by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In 1980, with his partner, Philip Schatz, Storey purchased a large collection of used books and opened Erasmus Books.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Friday at St. Hedwig Catholic Church, 331 S. Scott St. Visitation will precede the Mass beginning at 4 p.m. Welsheimer Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Contributions in Storey’s memory may be made to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., Elkhart, IN 46514; or St. Margaret’s House, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601.

Bill Storey passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2014 after a brief illness. Born on April 23, 1923 he started his 90 years in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He was born to Anglo-Saxon and French Canadian parents who preceded him in death.
Educated in a public grade school and a collegiate high school, Bill entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order at the age of 19. For four years he endured its peculiar lifestyle before continuing his education at Assumption College of the University of Western Ontario, earning a B.A. and M.A. in Honours Philosophy. He then moved to the United States to enter the Medieval Institute of the University of Notre Dame from which he graduated with an M.A. and a doctorate in Medieval Studies.
In September of 1951 he married Elaine Curry of Detroit, MI. She preceded him in death in 1999. Together they had seven children, Elizabeth (deceased), Margaret (Raymond Ortiz), David (Cathy Roemer), Joan, John (Janice), Paul (Tamara) and Clare (deceased). Bill was gifted with five grandchildren, Corey Gill (Jill), Zachary Ortiz (Kaity), Mathew and Neil Storey, and Claire Storey; and one great-grandchild, Oliver Ortiz. Also surviving are three nephews of his late sister, Shirley and her husband, Walter; Paul, Peter, and Mark along with their families. He was preceded in death by his brother, David. After his divorce in 1977, Bill espoused Philip Howland Schatz in a happy and prized ‘marriage’ until his death last week.
In 1955 Bill began his teaching career in the department of history of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, specializing in Medieval History. He was department chair for six years and an adjunct professor in the department of theology, teaching Liturgy and Church History. During most of those years he was also a fairly well known activist in interracial affairs, the war against the Vietnamese people, and the beginnings of the Catholic Pentecostal Movement. As a result, he was not popular with the Duquesne administration, the bishop of Pittsburgh, and as it turned out, with the F.B.I. which kept an all too copious file on him and tried, and failed, to prevent him from becoming a citizen in 1965. Bill was rather relieved in 1967 when he was invited to teach in the newly founded doctoral program in liturgical studies at Notre Dame. In 1968 he was asked to devise an undergraduate program for majors in theology and began a 10 credit course in Church History as the core of that program. Bill retired in 1985 but continued directing doctoral students in Liturgy until 1988. He enjoyed a long and fruitful connection with many of his students and colleagues and was grateful for their cooperation and lasting friendship. In retirement Bill became part owner of Erasmus Books in South Bend and with his partner, Philip, enjoyed a long career as book sellers. He continued his career in publishing a popular series of prayer books.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday evening, January 24th at 6:00 p.m. at St. Hedwig Catholic Church, 331 S. Scott St., South Bend, IN. Visitation will be prior to the mass from 4 until 6 p.m. in the church with a dinner to follow the mass.
Contributions in memory of Bill may be offered to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., Elkhart, IN, 46514 or St. Margaret’s House, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN, 46601.
The family is especially grateful for Philip, for his unconditional love and hope, and for the nurses and doctors at Memorial Hospital.
Welsheimer Family Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
Bill died in the communion of the Catholic Church and asks his children, grandchildren, friends, and other relatives to pray for the repose of his soul. They may like to use this prayer:
 
Heavenly Father,
By the precious blood shed by your only Son
On the cross of Cavalry for our salvation,
And by the prayers of the great Mother of God,
Mary most holy, and of all the saints gone before us;
Please forgive the sins of Bill Storey, committed by his own fault,
In his thoughts and in his words, and by what he failed to do.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Charitable donations may be made in William's memory to the following organization:
Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., Elkhart, IN, 46514

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Birth	23 Apr 1923	Sarnia, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
Marriage	Sep 1951	Elaine Elizabeth Curry
Divorce	1977	Elaine Elizabeth Curry
Death	16 Jan 2014	Indiana
Obituary	21 Jan 2014	South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana

Spouse	Elaine Elizabeth Curry (1923 - 1999)
Child	Elizabeth Ann Storey (1952 - 1974)
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Clare Storey ( - )

Spouse

Living

Father	Clifton Palmer Storey (1892 - 1968)
Mother	Avilla Florence Victoria Reynolds (1900 - 1969)
Sibling	Shirley Storey ( - )
Sibling	David Storey ( - )

Notes