This summer the university suffered the loss of two of the most unique and distinguished members of the Loyola and New Orleans communities when Brother Alexis Gonzales, F.S.C., and Benjamin Wren, Ph.D, passed away. Both were long-time professors who made dramatic and lasting impressions on those who had the opportunity to know them.

Brother Alexis Gonzales, F.S.C., a Loyola professor and nationally recognized film buff, died on Aug. 18, at the age of 74.

Gonzales was born in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 1, 1931 and joined the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1950.

He spent the first half of the 1960s doing missionary work and teaching in Asia, specifically in the Philippines and Hong Kong. Throughout his career, Gonzales traveled extensively, visiting countless international film festivals on his journeys.

In 1970, Gonzales joined the Loyola faculty, initially teaching in the drama department. For the last two decades of his life, he worked as a professor-at-large, which allowed him to teach any courses in which he had a particular expertise. And he did not lack expertise.

Gonzales’ greatest interest was always in film; every semester he taught at least two courses in the then-Department of Communication’s film studies sequence.

“He knew film, and he was passionate about film,” said William Hammel, Ph.D, former communications professor.

A course he delighted in teaching was Latin American film, in which he had particular expertise. His knowledge covered a spectrum of genres, as demonstrated by some of his most recent course offerings, which spanned from documentaries to musicals to Shakespearian films.

Gonzales was responsible for bringing exceptional film experience to Loyola.

“He was responsible for making Loyola nationally famous for film events,” Hammel said. Before the advent of videotapes, Loyola was one of the only venues available for showing films, including many foreign films that would otherwise not have been seen in New Orleans.

Said Hammel: “He provided the New Orleans community with a cultural treasure.”

He also founded a film viewing group during his time at Loyola called the Film Buff Institute.

“He made major contributions to Loyola that few people are cognizant of today,” Hammel said.

Gonzales’ work with the drama department was characterized by elaborate productions and imaginatively decorated sets. And his individuality left an imprint on countless members of the Loyola community at large.

Nola.com devoted a guest book to his memory. It’s filled with descriptions like “eclectic,” “incorrigible,” “brilliant” and “vibrant.”

“He was amusing, frustrating and fascinating – all rolled into one,” said Hammel, adding, that, “He was a world-class character.”

John Calamia, associated vice president of financial affairs and a long-time friend of Gonzales called him a “ball of energy, simply unbelievable.”

His impact on those around him was undeniable.

“Alexis should have long since been declared a national treasure,” said Hammel. “He was the real deal.”

Professor Benjamin Wren, Ph.D., who was well known for teaching the practice of Zen, died of lung cancer on Thursday, July 20, at the age of 75.

Wren joined the Society of Jesus in 1948 at the age of 17. In 1996, after 48 years as a Jesuit, he left for life in the laity and married his wife, Patricia.

Wren held a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Spring Hill College, a licentiate in sacred theology and philosophy from Saint Louis University and a Master of Arts in Oriental studies from the University of Arizona.

He came to Loyola in 1970 and began teaching history. After being denied tenure in the history department, he spent several years teaching in City College. He returned to the history department in the mid-1980s.

He was very involved in both Eastern philosophy and Eastern history.

During his time in the history department, Wren’s influence helped to move the required History of World Civilization course curriculum from centering on European civilizations toward a more global focus.

“He was devoted to Japanese and Chinese history, and he urged the history department to spend more time on them,” said the Rev. Leo Nicoll, S.J., who worked with Wren in the history department.

Eastern religion and spirituality were favorite topics for Wren. He began studying Zen in 1956 and began teaching it at Loyola in 1974. He felt that Zen complimented Catholic spirituality.

“He was an interesting amalgam of Christianity and Oriental religion. It was his own synthesis, which he then tried to communicate to others,” said Nicoll.

Barbara Ewell, an English professor in City College, was greatly impressed by Wren when she first took his Zen class in 1989.

“I was taken by what he was teaching. He had a great gift,” she said.

Zen classes were not open to everyone. Loyola students needed to have completed religious studies and World Civilization I, before meeting Wren for a personal interview. He then admitted or denied students to the class at his discretion. Wren wanted his Zen classes to focus on those who wanted to have their consciousness challenged.

“I was very impressed with the way he dealt with students. I think he looked for seekers, people who were looking for something different in life,” Ewell said.

This somewhat curt recruitment style, and his frank style of speaking, made him a polarizing personality.

“There were students that could not stand him, and there were students who loved him and took every class he had,” Nicoll said. “There was no middle ground to the students’ reactions.”

Wren’s sometimes confrontational manner with his students was designed to challenge their normal perspective: literally provoking them into awareness.

“He was always pushing students to go further. He didn’t mind (students) failing, but he minded them not trying,” said Ewell. “He was an extraordinary man and one of the most wonderful presences at Loyola.”

Lindsey Netherly can be reached at [email protected].