Father Francis D. Rabaut, SJ died October 26, 2008 at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan

Father Francis Dermott Rabaut was universally known as Father Derm.  In his 77 years as a Jesuit he served mainly in the Detroit area.  For both long service and family reasons, he was known well in Detroit, especially since his father had been the local U.S. congressman for 26 years.  A main reason why his father is remembered is that he had personally originated and sponsored the action of the U.S. Congress to insert “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance back in the 1960s.

Personally, Father Derm was a devoted man: as a Jesuit, to his family, in his work and friendships, to the Church, and in a special sense to tradition.  And that had its humorous and serious side, especially for those close to him.  There was a certain way of doing things, and Derm hewed to the line with real devotion, which sometimes made it interesting, to say the least.  At the same time, Father Derm was well loved and enormously respected by us all, especially by those close to him.

 Sufficient to say, he is really missed by the Jesuit community, especially for all the thoughtful duties he assumed and quietly carried out in the background.  He made his mark as a true man of God, as a friend to the poor, and for his faithfulness both to duty and to all touched by his life.

Biographical information

Father Rabaut was born on June 13, 1912 in Detroit, Michigan.  He entered the Society of Jesus on August 31, 1931, at the Milford Novitiate in Milford, Ohio.  He was ordained a priest at West Baden College in West Baden Springs, Indiana on June 14, 1944.  He professed final vows in New York on August 15, 1949.