1929 – 1993 (February 12)
James Patrick Elliott and his twin brother Thomas were born on July 21, 1929, in Atlantic City, New Jersey to James P. Elliott and Delia Lavin. James was baptized on August 4, 1929, at Saint James Church Ventnor, N.J. He attended Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish school and, after graduation in 1943, spent a year at Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City, N.J. In September, 1944, he transferred to Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, where he was accepted as a postulant. In 1947 he graduated and in September entered the novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburgh, New York. He professed simple vows on September 10, 1948 and three years later solemn vows at Saint Mary's Hall, Villanova, Pa. In 1952 he graduated from Villanova with a B.A. degree and began the study of theology at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. During the summers he took graduate courses in economics at The Catholic University of America. On October 28, 1955 Jim was ordained to the priesthood at the Church of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, the Bronx, N.Y.
Following ordination Father Elliott continued his theology and graduate studies receiving a master's degree in economics from The Catholic University in 1959 and a master's degree in education from Villanova University in 1967. During the academic year 1967-1968 he took part-time courses in curriculum planning at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. From 1956 to 1970 he taught religion, English, and social studies at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pa., and served as director of studies. In 1970 he was named headmaster of Austin Preparatory School, Reading, Massachusetts, and while there he undertook a revision of the school curriculum. In 1973 he returned to Monsignor Bonner as director of studies. In 1979 Father Elliott was named prior and treasurer of Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. From 1982 to 1986 he was associate pastor of Saint Mary's Church, Lawrence, Mass. In 1987 he was assigned to Saint John Neumann High School, Golden Gate, Florida, to lend his expertise in curriculum planning. He returned to Saint Mary's, Lawrence, in 1988.
Father Elliott underwent a serious operation for a chronic heart condition in 1991 and upon recovering requested an assignment. In the fall of 1992 he was assigned to Saint Augustine Church, Andover, Mass., with limited activities. Despite precautions his heart began to fail and he entered the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, for treatment. It was here that he died on February 12, 1993. Father Elliott was survived by his twin brother, Thomas, another brother, and two sisters. His uncle, Brother Brendan Elliott, of our Province, had died in 1986.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on February 15 at Saint Augustine Church, Andover, Mass. The homilist was Father Arthur D. Johnson, O.S.A. The following day Mass was celebrated at the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova on the University campus. The homilist was Father Harry J. Erdlen, O.S.A. Interment was the following morning, February 17, in the Augustinian plot of Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.
