Father Louis
Zake Retires
click here for Farewell Liturgy & Luncheon
It is with great regret that we bid farewell to Father Louis Zake. He began teaching at Quigley South in 1967, and is retiring after 37 years as a teacher and administrator at Quigley. We will miss his wisdom, his dry humor, and his unique and effective teaching style. God bless you, Father Zake.
Quigley Student: 1948 - 1953
Louis Zakrzewicz attended Quigley when it was a five year program. The classes were
held every day but Thursday and Sunday. Lou was very involved in Quigley activities,
especially sports. He participated in basketball, baseball, touch football and
hockey. These were all intramural sports, as Quigley did not have interscholastic
competition at that time. Lou's home parish was primarily Polish, and getting to
know students from all over the city, from all different kinds of backgrounds, was a big
awakening for him.
After graduating from Quigley, Lou earned both Master of Education and Licentiate of Sacred Theology degrees from the Pontifical Faculty of the University of St. Mary of the Lake.
Priest: 1960 - 1967
Father Lou's first assignment after ordination was at St. Turibius on the South side for
five years. He was an Associate Pastor. Then he served at St. Constance on the
North side for two years as Associate Pastor..
Quigley South Faculty: 1967 - 1990
Father Lou was then hired at Quigley South as a history professor.
In his twenty-three years at Quigley South, he taught history and religion, and
became Chair of the History Department. He also served as procurator (business
manager) for ten years.
During his time at Quigley South there were a couple of trips to Europe. A busload
of students and chaperones participated. They went down the Rhine River and visited
Paris. He felt these trips provided a very worthwhile experience for both the
students and the faculty.
While teaching at Quigley South, Lou continued his own studies at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. He earned both Master and Doctorate degrees in Modern European History from the U. of C.
Archbishop Quigley Faculty: 1990 - 2004
With the closing of Quigley South in 1990, Father Lou transferred his skills to Archbishop
Quigley Preparatory Seminary. There he taught history and religion to another
generation of students.
During Father Lou's career, he served as a representative to the Priest Senate of the Archdiocese of Chicago. His published work includes a study that combines two major themes of his life, pride in his ethnic background and love of the forces of history that form our current world. This study shows the influence of the American Polish Community in the establishment of Poland's government. His current duties also include teaching at Loyola University.