Fr. James “Jim” Alexander Conlon, 89, passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Mercy Retirement & Care Center in Oakland, California.
Jim was born on September 6, 1936, in Port Lambton, Ontario, Canada and raised in Sombra, Ontario on the banks of the St. Clair River. After graduating from Assumption University of Windsor with a BS in Chemistry, Jim entered St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. Jim was ordained in 1964 and served as associate pastor at the following churches in Ontario: Blessed Sacrament Parish in London, Our Lady of Mercy in Sarnia and St. Ursula in Chatham.
Jim was a friendly person who could talk with anyone. He possessed public speaking, writing, organizing, teaching, counseling, and creative skills that he used throughout his life. Jim participated and led programs in spirituality, community organization, theological education, and social justice in Toronto, Chicago, and a few other places. Jim received a PhD in Social Science from The Union Institute & Graduate School in Cincinnati. The majority of Jim’s career was spent at Holy Name University in Oakland, California, where he was the Founding Director of the Sophia Center in Culture and Spirituality; 31 years. Following his retirement from the Sophia Center, he joined the staff of Springbank Retreat for Ecology and the Arts. He brought his years of experience of teaching, mentoring and writing to and with the many global sabbatical participants over the past 9 years before his return to Oakland, CA where he retired at Mercy Retirement and Care Center.
Jim is the author of numerous articles and more than 15 books. Jim has travelled to several countries in his work; his most important trip was with his sister, Mary, and their visit to Ireland to trace their ancestors.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Elizabeth Conlon, his sister Mary Conlon, and grandnephew Scott Conlon.
Jim is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Tate Conlon; nephews Chuck (Janet) and Doug (Annette) Conlon; nieces Teresa (Mario) Zampieri and Maria Conlon; grandnieces Bianca and Adrianna Zampieri and Abby (Alex) Sofronas; as well as many supportive friends, religious sisters and students.
He is resting at the Eric F. Nicholls Funeral Home Ltd. 639 Elgin St., Wallaceburg. A funeral mass will be held Friday, January 16 at 10:30a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Port Lambton, ON. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Sombra. Visitation will be held 1 hour before the mass at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Fr. Jim’s name to the Springbank Retreat Center in Kingstree, SC. The Eric Nicholls Funeral Home in Wallaceburg, ON is handling the arrangements.
