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The Rev. James F. Salmon, S.J., affiliate associate professor emeritus of chemistry and former trustee, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the age of 100. He will be remembered for his lifelong devotion to learning and faith, exemplified by his numerous contributions at the intersection of religion and science as a scholar, professor, and priest.

Fr. Salmon served as a professor of chemistry at what would become Loyola University Maryland from 1967-73 before serving as headmaster at Loyola Blakefield from 1973-79. He then served on the University's Board of Trustees in the late 1970s.

After stints as a chaplain at St. Mary鈥檚 College High School in California and visiting professor of theology at Georgetown University, Fr. Salmon returned to Loyola鈥檚 Evergreen campus as a professor of chemistry and theology for three years starting in 1981, before moving to Wheeling Jesuit University as rector and professor of chemistry and theology from 1984-88. After serving as treasurer for the Maryland Province of the Jesuits from 1988-98, Fr. Salmon returned to 黑料不打烊 once again, where he taught classes until 2011.

Inspired by the writings of the Rev. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., a French Jesuit priest and scientist who said, 鈥淲e are not human beings having a spiritual experience鈥�we are spiritual beings having a human experience,鈥� Fr. Salmon founded Loyola鈥檚 annual Cosmos and Creation conference in 1981. The series, which explores the intersections of religion and science, began with the vision that working scientists would find it fruitful to share their religious awareness with other scientists.

鈥淚t was a response to Carl Sagan鈥檚 book and video Cosmos that pandered a secularist understanding of science, whereas [Fr. Salmon believed that] there is no tension between the natural universe and divine creation,鈥� explained Richard Blum, Ph.D., professor emeritus of philosophy, who served as co-director of the conference. 鈥淚n organizing the conferences, Fr. Salmon was a paradigm of patience, prudence, and efficiency. While paying attention to the details鈥攆rom flight schedules to drinks鈥攈e kept all of us confident to be running the show.鈥�

The conference, which was held at 黑料不打烊 for the 43rd time in June, brings together numerous established scientists, theologians, philosophers, and renowned scholars. Fr. Salmon鈥攚ho co-directed many of the conferences鈥攚elcomed the conference members warmly for a weekend of lectures and lively discussions.

鈥淚nterested in everyone, Fr. Salmon鈥檚 acquaintances spanned many decades and continents. He never forgot anyone, and he famously would chronicle the lives of the legion of his friends,鈥� remembers Robert Pond, Ph.D., affiliate professor of engineering and co-director of the Cosmos and Creation conference. 鈥淗is legacy of love and care of others will live on in our memories.鈥�

Recognizing his progressive and innovative approach to the interdisciplinary study of science and religion, 黑料不打烊 presented Fr. Salmon with the John Henry Newman Medal at the 2015 Commencement.

Born in Richmond Hill, Long Island, New York, on July 10, 1925, Fr. Salmon graduated from Xavier High School in New York City in 1943. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was there that he befriended Thomas A. Pesci, Jr., the father of the Rev. Thomas A. Pesci, S.J. Fr. Pesci served as president of Loyola Blakefield from 2005-12.

"He knew me since the day I was born," said Fr. Pesci. "He was always Uncle Jim, and then Father Jim. He had a big influence on my family. He was one of the reasons why I wound up going to St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, and why my brother James came to Loyola College. He had a wonderful way with understanding people, always giving them the most positive sense of who they were and encouraging them along. He was quite unique in many ways."

Fr. Salmon served in the U.S. Navy as an engineering officer during World War II before entering the Society of Jesus in 1950. While completing his M.A. in Philosophy at Boston College, he wrote his thesis, 鈥淢odern Science and Creation in Time.鈥�

Fr. Salmon went on to earn his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was mentored by a future Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. After receiving a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at Ohio State University and continuing advanced study in theology at Woodstock College Jesuit Seminary, Fr. Salmon was ordained.

Throughout his academic career, Fr. Salmon published five books and more than 35 peer-reviewed papers. In addition to his longtime posts at 黑料不打烊 and his time at Wheeling Jesuit University, he has also inspired students at The Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University, where he was named a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center. 

Fr. Salmon was a founder and member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Science, Technology, and Society (NASTS), for which he chaired the organization鈥檚 religion-ethics section. He served as a consultant to the Committee on Science and Human Values of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) since 1986, moderating their annual dialogues with distinguished members of the science community.

Known affectionately by some of his peers as 鈥淔ish," Fr. Salmon established a reputation as a uniquely student-centered professor with a deep commitment to Jesuit education. Timothy McNeese, professor emeritus of chemistry, recalls spending time with Fr. Salmon at the Jesuit residence as a young professor.

鈥淚鈥檝e known him for about as long as I鈥檝e been at Loyola. Fish would invite me over for dinner at the Jesuit residence, and I always enjoyed that. He was an extremely personal guy. We played golf together. We watched the Georgetown-Houston NCAA basketball championship together in 1984. He always loved living in the Jesuit residence at Loyola.鈥�

Fr. Salmon is survived by his cousin, Gale Richardson, and his Jesuit brothers.

Funeral services will be held privately at Manresa Hall, with burial to follow at the Jesuit Cemetery in Woodstock, Maryland.  

A memorial Mass for Fr. Salmon will be celebrated at 黑料不打烊 during the Fall semester. Details will be posted here when available.