Very Rev. Louis Dion, A.A. AP’31, ’35, HD’79

Fr. Lou received the College’s Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1976 and was award an honorary degree from Assumption in 1979. A Worcester native and the oldest of nine children, Fr. Lou was a natural leader for his siblings. He entered the Assumption Noviciate in Quebec in 1935 and was ordained a priest in France in 1940. He began teaching at Assumption College in 1942 and went on to serve as dean, registrar, second assistant to the president, director of alumni relations, development officer, and ultimately served as president (1964–68). He continued to serve as vice chancellor and member of the College’s Board of Trustees until his death in 2001. A residence hall at Assumption, Dion Hall, bears his name.

Fr. Lou was also devoted to the Augustinians of the Assumption, serving as apostolic administrator to the USSR and chaplain to the American Catholics in Moscow (1959–61, 1968–71). He held numerous other assignments including superior of the Assumptionist residence in Worcester. He was best known as a long-time and true friend to countless people, whom he kept in touch with through his hand-written letters and notes over the years. The College’s Outstanding Achievement Award was renamed in his honor in 2002.

Last updated 12/17/07