René Chamussy (15 December 1936 – 27 October 2016) was a French-Lebanese Jesuit priest and academic administrator. He was the author of several books about Lebanon. He served as the

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of the

Saint Joseph University Saint Joseph University of Beirut ( French: ''Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth'', abbreviated to and commonly known as "USJ") is a private Catholic research university located in Beirut, Lebanon, which was founded in 1875 by French Jesuit mis ...

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

, Lebanon, from 2003 to 2012.

Early life

Chamussy was born on 15 December 1936 in

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...

, France. He joined the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

in 1956, at the age of 20. Chamussy graduated from the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in French-Latin-Greek and English in 1959, and the

University of Lyon The University of Lyon (french: Université de Lyon), located in Lyon and Saint-Étienne, France, is a center for higher education and research comprising 11 members and 24 associated institutions. The three main universities in this center are: ...

, where he received a degree in theology in 1969. He emigrated to Lebanon in 1969, and became a Lebanese citizen in 2012.

Career

Chamussy taught at the

Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour , nickname = , logo = Coat_of_arms_of_Collège_Notre_Dame_de_Jamhour.gif , logo_size = 140px , image = , alt = , caption = , motto ...

in Beirut in the 1970s. He joined the

, also in Beirut, in 1977. He served as the director of its Language and Translator Institute from 1989 to 1995, the Dean of its College of Arts and Sciences from 1995 to 2000, and Vice Rector of Human Resources from 2000 to 2003. He then served as its rector from 2003 to 2012. He served as the chairman of its endowment holding company, Recherche et développement, from 2012 to 2016. Chamussy was the author of several books about Lebanon. His first book, ''Chronique d’une guerre : Le Liban, 1975–1977'', was reviewed by John P. Entelis, a Professor of Political Science at

Fordham University Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...

, in ''

The Middle East Journal ''The Middle East Journal'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Middle East Institute (Washington, D.C.). It was established in 1947 and covers research on the modern Middle East, including political, economic, and social ...

'', and by French historian

Jean Baubérot Jean Baubérot (born 26 July 1941 in Châteauponsac, Haute-Vienne), is a French historian and sociologist specializing in sociology of religions. He is the founder of the sociology of secularism. After holding the chair of "History and Sociology ...

in ''Archives de sciences sociales des religions''. Chamussy was the recipient of a prize from the Association France-Liban for it. Additionally, he published many articles in journals like ''

La Civiltà Cattolica ''La Civiltà Cattolica'' (Italian for ''Catholic Civilization'') is a periodical published by the Jesuits in Rome, Italy. It has been published continuously since 1850 and is among the oldest of Catholic Italian periodicals. All of the journal' ...

'', '' Études'', ''

The Month ''The Month'' was a monthly review, published from 1864 to 2001, which, for almost all of its history, was owned by the English Province of the Society of Jesus and was edited by its members. History ''The Month'', founded and edited by Frances ...

'', and ''Travaux et jours''. Chamussy was inducted into the National Order of Merit in 2001, and he was awarded the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...

in 2007. He was also inducted into the

Order of Civil Merit The Order of Civil Merit ( es, Orden del Mérito Civil) was established by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. The order recognizes "the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and fore ...

by the King of Spain in 2012. He was also made a Commander of the

Order of Isabella the Catholic The Order of Isabella the Catholic ( es, Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order and honor granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations a ...

in 2012.

Death

Chamussy died on 27 October 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. He was 79 years old. His funeral was held at the Eglise Saint-Joseph des jésuites in

Achrafieh Achrafieh ( ar, الأشرفية) is an upper-class area in eastern Beirut, Lebanon. In strictly administrative terms, the name refers to a sector (''secteur'') centred on Sassine Square, the highest point in the city, as well as a broader quarter ...

, Beirut, Lebanon.

Works

* * * * * * * * *

References

External links

Faculty webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chamussy, Rene 1936 births 2016 deaths Clergy from Lyon University of Paris alumni University of Lyon alumni French emigrants to Lebanon 20th-century French Jesuits 21st-century French Jesuits Lebanese Jesuits Saint Joseph University faculty French non-fiction writers Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Order of Civil Merit members Commanders of the Order of Isabella the Catholic