This Jesuit served Gonzaga for 43 years and held just about every position imaginable, including the title “unofficial dean of women.” When women began entering the University in the 1940s, female students felt they needed a ‘protector’ and elected this Jesuit for the role.
The Yakima native not only was dedicated to Gonzaga but also to medicine, serving on the board of the National League of Nursing and co-authoring
“Better Health Care in the State of Washington.”
Described by Father Coughlin, S.J., as “a very down-to-earth, practical, matter-of-fact man,” this Jesuit was also warm and welcoming, often writing personal letters to parents detailing their sons’ and daughters’ Gonzaga adventures.
If you know who this mystery Zag is, please share your thoughts and a favorite memory by e-mailing gonzaga@gonzaga.edu or writing to Editor, Gonzaga Magazine, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99258-0070.
I first met lFr. Regimbal in Sept 1941 . I lived in Soap Lake, WA 120 West of Spokane, I had never
met a Jesuit before, I was dropped of by my parish priest in front of DeSmet hall, the only instructions I had awas to report to the fourth floor prefect. On the way up the stairs I met
a black robe, who asked if I was Paul Klasen from Soap Lake, I said Yes end of conversation
I later was informed it was Fr Regimbal, how he knew who I was , amaized me a short time
lasster I was sinformed he was Fr Regimbal prefect of the 3rd floor, I never found out how
he knew who is was. A year later Fr. Regimbal caught my roomaate and I throwing snowballs
from the roof of DeSmet on unsuspected persons below, Fr gave he hell and couldn’t figure out
howwe got on the roof as the door was locked and he had the key, when we told him we had climbecd up the fire escape we got another dose , nobdy had done that before, Fr taught
Fsrench but I never had any; classes from.him. My only distinction was that I lived in probably more residences than any other student about eight . The last 2 1/2 yrs in Dogpatch