by Dennis Dalman
A man who was often viewed as the very embodiment of Benedictine Christian values died in Collegeville on April 11 at the age of 99.
Fr. (Father) Don Talafous, OSB (Order of St. Benedict), was a monk, chaplain, teacher and an inspirational friend to one and all.
A funeral mass for Talafous took place April 13 at St. John’s Abbey. He was interred in the Abbey’s cemetery.
All who knew and loved him are mourning his loss.
“Fr. Don was a dear friend to generations of students, faculty, staff, monastics and presidents,” said Dr. Brian Bruess, president of both St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict. “We miss him and will continue to model his revered gifts of deep listening and genuine friendship . . . He will be remembered for how steady and gracefully he journeyed with those he encountered. He was unmatched in his ability to remember names and hometowns, but more importantly he delighted in knowing each person’s story and life passions.”
St. John’s Abbot Douglas Mullin, OSB, released this statement:
“Early on in his monastic life and ministry, Fr. Don discovered a gift for relating to the spiritual challenges of our students and alums in their ordinary lives. With both a gift and a serious work ethic, he was able to remember names, faces and places of origin in a way that enabled him to be profoundly personal with thousands of friends and alums.”
Adam Herbst, SJU’s executive director of University Relations, had this to say:
“There is no one else who knew so many people and had such a vast connection within the St. John’s community. It’s just unprecedented, unparalleled.”
Born in Duluth, Talafous was 17 years old when he enrolled in 1943 at SJU. He earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy and completed seminary studies in 1952 and was then ordained as a priest.
Early on, he taught Latin and theology in Nassau (the Bahamas) and was associate pastor at St. Anselm Parish (Bronx, New York City) before returning to SJU in 1956 as chaplain, theology teacher and advisor.
Talafous’s life of service to humankind included his vast accumulation of knowledge and practical know-how. He was a master of so many topics that included Latin, theology, philosophy and literature. His dissertation for his doctorate degree from Berkeley University was entitled “The Theological Anthropology of Hermann Hesse’s novels,” a result of his close reading of that great German-Swiss novelist.
As university chaplain, Talafous made a point of knowing each and every student, served as student advisor and celebrated daily Mass.
He taught theology for 37 years, was a faculty resident for 32 years and served as university chaplain for 16 years. He loved to read and to write. The books he wrote are “Readings in Science and Spirit,” “The Risk in Believing,” “A Word for the Day: Reflections,” “Homilies for Weekdays,” and “Musings: A Benedictine on Christian Life.”
Talafous was known and loved for his constant kindness, his people-friendly approach and his often quirky sense of humor.
He said the following about his role as chaplain to SJU alumni:
“I tell people that it is fun, fattening or funerals. Sometimes all three come together when you go to the funeral and a lot of alumni are there, and it’s like a reunion. It is very satisfying. I love seeing alumni.”
He was awarded the “Father Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award” from SJU in 1989 and the “President’s Medal” in 2015.
Talafous is survived by a sister, Diane Seaman of Duluth, as well as by generations of the SJU alumni, faculty and staff members who so admired and loved him.
