January 24, 2021
Rev. J. Stuart McPhail, O.P. ’61 celebrates 50 years of service to PC
By Ealish Brawley ’14
The 2020-21 academic year marks the first in 50 years that Rev. J. Stuart McPhail, O.P. ’61 is not in front of a classroom instructing students at Providence College. Although he has retired from teaching, Father McPhail remains active during his golden year of service to the College community in his role as associate chaplain for the National Alumni Association.
Two years after his ordination, Father McPhail, a native of Providence, returned home to his alma mater in 1971 to serve in a variety of academic and administrative roles. He taught Basic Catholicism and the American Religious Experience in the theology department and English History in the history department, and he co-taught in the Development of Western Civilization Program.
His intelligence and wit engaged students in their coursework for decades.
“It was always my objective to make the course description come alive — become dynamic and interesting to the students,” he said. In courses such as English History, there was a lot of content to cover. “It was a joke among my students that, if you dropped your pencil, you lost 600 years.”
Even when he assumed various administrative roles at the College, Father McPhail frequently continued to teach as a special lecturer, saying every one of his positions gave him “great enjoyment.”
“You forget about everything on your desk when you walk into the classroom,” he said.
Tom Smith ’85 and his wife, Jennifer K. (Alcarez) Smith ’85, developed a lifelong friendship with Father McPhail as a result of his engaging classroom presence. Tom Smith was a student in his Basic Catholicism course his first year.
It was because of Father’s unique sense of humor and ability to engage the students in the class that I got to know him on a one-on-one basis,” he said. “As Jennifer and I started dating the second week of our freshman year, it was only natural that Father would also get to know her.” Father McPhail was one of three Dominicans to celebrate their wedding in 1989, along with the late Rev. Thomas J. Ertle, O.P. ’53, ’82G, & ’84Hon. and the late Rev. Adrian G. Dabash, O.P. ’62 & ’63G.
While Smith’s job as president of customer development and sales operations for Nestlé Waters North America took their family to many cities across the U.S. and even to Switzerland, the couple kept in contact with their friend from PC. “As Jennifer and I moved a number of times, we could always ensure a visit from Padre,” he said.
Father McPhail’s sense of humor endeared him to their children as well.
“Padre was always a huge M&M person, a competitive product to Nestlé. Knowing my competitive sentiment, he would send our daughters the biggest package of M&Ms he could possibly find for Christmas. Our daughters now affectionately refer to him as Father M&M,” said Smith.
Deborah DiNardo, Esq. ’78, an attorney with Orson & Brusini Ltd. in Providence, also enjoys a decades-long friendship with Father McPhail. They met when she offered her help in compiling the new student register her first year. She participated in an “old-fashioned letter correspondence” with Father McPhail after she left for law school in upstate New York. Upon her return to Rhode Island, she said their friendship “picked up right where we left off.”
They share an interest in theater and concerts, and they continue to enjoy many together. Their shared interest encouraged Deborah to invite Father McPhail a few years ago to join her at the Central Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) on the East Side of Providence for their renowned Candlelight Carol Service. Father’s study of other faiths and his teaching of the American Religious Experience added a layer to this family tradition.
“Father was very knowledgeable about the symbolism in the church, including the images on the dome and ceiling,” she said. “He even asked to take home one of the carol service booklets so he could share it with a friend of his who is involved with the music ministry at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.” This carol service has become an Advent tradition for Father and Deborah.
In addition to teaching in multiple departments, Father McPhail served the College in numerous other roles. He was involved in student life as the St. Joseph Hall director from 1971-78 and assistant College chaplain in 1974 and 1975. He served as College programming coordinator/director and Slavin Center assistant director from 1975-86 and director of special events from 1978-88. He was the subprior of St. Thomas Aquinas Priory on campus from 1980- 89.
From 1988-2006, Father McPhail served as vice president for student services. Throughout his years at PC, he was the faculty moderator of many clubs and campus organizations, including the Football Club, Sailing Club, Student Congress, Board of Programmers, and The Cowl.
Father McPhail, who continues to live in the campus priory, viewed each one of his administrative roles as an opportunity to teach, he said. “My work as vice president for student services, even that was a teaching role. In every situation there was a value to be communicated and a lesson to be taught,” he said.
Father McPhail was honored many times for his long and varied service to the College. He was named Student Congress Person of the Year in 1977, 1978, and 1980; was presented the PC National Alumni Association Board of Governors Annual Banquet Support and Dedication Award six times; and had two entertainment centers on campus named in his honor, Stuart’s, a residence hall lounge, and McPhail’s.
George Catrambone ’05 remembers his first meeting with Father McPhail — then faculty moderator for Student Congress — upon his election as class president.
“I was a little nervous given he had, what I had heard, was a stern reputation, but he was very nice. He offered me all the chocolate and caffeine I wanted, and we started to talk about goals for the following year. We’ve been friends ever since,” he said.
“Above all, Father cared, and still cares, for the students, their safety, and their college experience. He really puts them first,” said Catrambone, who is managing director and head of Americas Trading at DWS, Deutsche Bank’s asset management arm.
He remembers Father McPhail being a model of dedication to members of Student Congress, including braving the snow to help at an outdoor winter event and loading buses for Junior Ring Weekend during a rainstorm. “He’s a walking U.S. Postal Service motto,” Catrambone joked.
“But those qualities, especially having someone to constantly rely on, are probably one of the most important things to a young person on their own for the first time.”
While the pandemic has limited Father McPhail’s ministry and outreach to the College community, he looks forward to a time when he can be more active in his role as associate chaplain of the NAA. The feeling is mutual for many of the alumni he has taught and touched over the decades.
