Joseph Leininger Obituary

Remembering you Father with great appreciation and love. Please pray for us.

Thank you again, Father, for everything and please pray for us.

Grateful to you forever, Father.

To try and sum up what Fr. Leininger meant to me is like asking him to pick someone else to go to the board: impossible.

How do you thank a man who shaped so much of how you think? How do you even come close to expressing how much has been lost with his passing?

I'll keep this short, in his memory. After all, Father Leininger never used two words when one would do.

Thank you Father. As you taught me, I can now teach others.

I just remember. St Johns HS. class of 1958

Father:
You will be teaching for all time - your principal charism, a gift of the Holy Spirit - and we harvesting much fruit for the building up of His Church, to the greater glory of God. Mathematics and English provided the venue to teach the way of Jesus Christ, fostered by your patron St. Joseph. You are a witness for Jesus, the Lord, yet, no longer you but Christ in you. Guide us and pray for us that we may attain to the full stature of Christ that has been ordained for us, in His Cross and Resurrection, to the glory of God the Father.

Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.

O LORD, I am thy servant;
I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid.
Thou hast loosed my bonds.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD! PS 116

Mary, Mother of God and our mother, embrace him eternally!

Father Leininger was certainly a good, even tempered priest, who always commanded respect while principal at St. John's/Jesuit High School in Shreveport, La. This must have been widely felt as I have seen that statement in other messages.

As a very precocious student during his time in Shreveport, I'm sure I caused him a great deal of heartache, for which I am truly sorry. I have prayed a Rosary for the rapid repose of his soul.

May God bless him and may may he be blessed with eternal salvation.

Class of 1961

The Leininger family and most particularly C.A., please accept my deepest sympathies.

Dear Father Charles Leininger:

The Cordaro family mourns the death of your brother J.B. and we offer our condolences to you and your family. Each of you taught so many Cordaros, helped us to learn in the classroom and prepared us for the day to day challenges of life. I frequently reflect on my formative years at St.John's and the influences of the many Jesuits who helped prepare me to achieve more than I ever imagined I could those many years ago. Thank you. May Father J.B. rest in peace and be remembered by everyone that he influenced over these years.

J.B. Cordaro(SJ '59) and family

I can still remember Fr. L's chilling "Gentlemen" as he prefaced another difficult question. He taught us a lot about discipline, preparation, and intensity-all in the service of others. My prayers are with his family.
Mick Smyer, Jesuit of NOLA, '68

Fr. Leininger was a fine example of a Catholic educator who valued tradition, excellence, and piety. He taught life lessons both inside and outside the classroom and was a true friend to my family. We were blessed to have him in our lives. He will be missed.

I also never had Fr. Leininger for a course, but his presence was everywhere at Jesuit New Orleans. The world is lessened by the passing of any of us - fortunately Fr. Leininger managed to increase it by his work.

Miek Raymond, Jesuit, New Orleans '68

Fr. Leininger was truly a good and decent person who dedicated himself to helping others. I have thought of him often thrugh the years and will never forget him for the help he gave me during my time at Jesuit. God bless him.

We are all saddened by your passing. As others have written, you truly did touch thousands and thousands of lives, both directly and indirectly. By your unwavering Christian belief, your commitment to education, loyalty, and friendship, you taught many young men and women what it means to be "A MAN FOR OTHERS".

You had a unique and genuine personality that I will never forget. During my time at SJ, you were the founder of the LTCC (Lunch Time Croquet Club) and morning scramble challenges on SJET. Though these games may have changed through the years, you were always there for your students in ways beyond the classroom. Thank you for your friendship.

May you rest in peace and be blessed by God forever and ever.

Scott Lester SJ '81

I never had Fr. Leininger for a teacher in my four years at SJ, but I can always remember as a freshman back in '89 I would see him standing outside his classroom in the hallway as classes were exchanging, and somehow he would routinely pick my face out of the crowd and lock eyes with me as I passed by him. Finally, he would give a slight grin and bow his head as if nodding in affirmation that everything was going to be fine. Something I felt strength & comfort in as a fish starting HS. It was also something that commanded my respect ever since.
I consider him a model Jesuit and disciple of our lifetime. I think of his persona when I think of SJ and the motto "Men for Others".

Peace be with you, Father...

As we accepted the the stick of chalk and headed for the vast black expanse that was Father Leininger's chalk board we were only hoping for the correct answer for what could have been one of that week's quiz problems. What we got were lessons for life. I am grateful to have been taught by this remarkable man.

As a 1971 graduate of JHS in New Orleans, I remember learning from Fr. Leininger that it is not enough to just get the right answer, one must also have an "elegant solution" to get full credit. His commitment to teaching the often "difficult to teach" was legendary. He will be missed, but fondly remembered.

Still today an inspiration. Rest in God's love, and thanks.

I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the Leininger Family. I hope that your belef in God and the Bible will strengthen you at this time. Please continue to draw close to God in prayer and he will sustain you.

As a 1964 graduate of Jesuit High School, Shreveport, La. I had the honor and privilege of being exposed to Father Leininger, for most of the 5 years that I attended Jesuit. I have never met a man that commanded and received more respect than Father Leininger did by his very presence. Even as a "smart mouthed" teenager, I could not disrespect him at any time or in any way. He was truly a fine man, one who influenced my life in so many positive ways. I will miss him.

Dear loved ones of Father Leininger,
On behalf of the remaining Bartles/Longoria family in the Shreveport area, I convey deepest sympathy for your loss. When a Jesuit dies,it is all our loss. I am sure my uncle the late Father Charles Bartles,SJ most assuredly served with Father Leininger. May God hold you in his arms.
Cindy Longoria Hagler

I will never forget the "attention to detail" you taught me in 9th grade English class - that has lived with me throughout my life. You were an amazing teacher and lived by example. Strong on the outside and kind and caring on the inside. Thank you for your devotion to your students and Jesuit Dallas!

You were my first high school English teacher. Hardest yet most valuable English class I took at Jesuit. You were a strict but good teacher.

There is a place for you in heaven no doubt, you were truly an inspiration and light for those of you who knew him, may you find everlasting peace.

Father was a tremendous educator and dedicated religious. It was a pleasure to know him.
Sr. Colleen Hennessey, SSND

You and your brother are in my prayers.

Thank you for teaching us the “no smudge, no erasure”, do it right the first time, rule of life. Also your class punishing “cooperative memory bureau” (memorize two non-sequential lines of a poem and the class recites the poem without missing a line) taught us to depend on others for support. As teenagers we thought you were harsh but as adults we thank you for your caring.
Bill Hebert Jesuit Tampa ‘52

From another of the thousands, Thank You. In pacem recquiescat.

My condolences to the Leininger family. Be comforted in knowing that there is a special place in heaven for the Lord's good priests, and that you will see him again.

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

One of the best teachers I've ever had and a true man of God. R.I.P.

Fr. L is a wonderful example of dedication and trust in God, and steadfastness, always consistent.

Thank you for your legendary instruction and unwavering faith. Students like me exceled because you expected it, believed in us, and did not tolerate excuses. Your class is one that I will always remember, not only for the lessons that it taught, but because of your consistent commitment to teaching.

You are proof that one man does make a difference. Your best lesson was the example you set for us as the type of man we should strive to be. I'm very lucky to have had you for a teacher, and I'll miss you terribly. A.M.D.G.

As I left SJ and proceeded on to college and life's challenges, I never realized completely what a trip to the board did for us.

How many times have we since been called to the board in real life to solve a problem, ease a situation or have an opportunity.

JB's patience and insistence that it can be solved and would be solved in our time at the board fostered deep within us confidence and determination to live at the board of life.

His determined compassion and insistence for nothing less than doing things 'correct' reminds me that the answer is always in front of us, we simply need to examine the variables of life and find the answer within.

A living example of being 'A man for others' JB Leininger will be missed.

Big "L" - for all that you did for me, teaching me to be a man and showing me the true meaning of humility, I continue striving to live up to your high standards. You profoundly affected my life, as I know you did with thousands of other young men -- thank you. I know there will come a time in the future, on a propitious day for my last quiz, when I will hear you command me once more, and in your firm voice say: "McAdams, Go to the board."

Great teacher and inspirer.

From one of the thousands, thanks.

With love,

R