Criminal justice assistant professor and recently appointed associate chairman of criminal justice Patrick Dennis Walsh died at his home Sunday, Feb. 28.

He was well known for his passion for criminal justice and willingness to “go the extra mile to help students,” according to William E. Thornton, chairman of the department of criminal justice.

Walsh specialized in the studies of the thought process of thieves leading up to robberies, corporate investigations and white-collar crime. Loyola was also Walsh’s alma mater, and he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from the university. He recently earned his doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2006.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Loyola, Walsh went on to work as an investigator in the lodging, retail and private security industries. One of his positions included being a polygraph investigator. Later, he worked for several different private investigator forms and then for Circle K Stores as a regional security loss prevention manager.

His experience in the private sector granted him a perspective that no other professor had, Thorton said. He was known for his wild stories from real life experiences, and his trademark humor that embellished them.

Thornton actually taught Walsh while he studied for his bachelor’s degree.

“I’ve known him since before he started teaching here, so I’ve lost a colleague and a friend,” Thornton said.

Walsh is survived by his wife of 32 years, Tere Mares