Teaching was his first love: Father David Gentry-Akin discussing faith and science. / Video screen grab courtesy Archdiocese of San Francisco
Remembering Father David Gentry-Akin
He was a longtime colleague and devoted friend to many. And it was his love of teaching that led him to the priesthood.
We are sorry to share the news that one of our long-time and devoted colleagues, Father David Gentry-Akin, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024. Messages of condolence for the family may be sent to his nephew, Paul Smith, at psmithlll@yahoo.com.
Father Gentry-Akin joined the Saint Mary’s College community in 1994 and taught undergraduate and graduate courses as a member of the School of Extended Education, the Graduate Liberal Studies Program, and the Theology and Religious Studies Department faculty. He participated in the Buttimer Institute, Cummins Institute, and the Lasallian Leadership Institute; and served on the national board of the College Theology Society and as a mentor for the annual Collegium Colloquy on Faith and the Intellectual Life.
He was a devoted teacher and scholar, and in 2014 received ordination as a Roman Catholic priest. In recounting the journey to discover that vocation for the Saint Mary’s community, he told how it was teaching that led him there. He was tutoring English to boys and girls coming to the States from Central and South America. “I wasn’t raised in a Catholic household,” said Gentry-Akin, who was introduced to the Catholic faith by twin boys from LaPaz, Bolivia, to whom he was teaching English. “It was almost accidental. I ended up discovering Catholicism through them.”
“This led Gentry-Akin to join a group of religious teaching Brothers at 18,” Holland Enke ’15 wrote in recounting the priest’s journey, “and to later pursue a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, then a doctorate from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. Though involved in hospital chaplaincy, social justice and parish work, the Catholic theology specialist has constantly remained true to his teaching roots, explaining, ‘I always end up coming back to teaching. It’s really my first love.’”
Father Gentry-Akin is remembered by his colleagues for his versatility in effectively teaching a broad mix of students with passion, conscientiousness, enthusiasm, and spirit, as well as for the personal attention and professional care he showed to students as an administrator, counselor, and teacher.
After retiring from Saint Mary’s College in 2022 he lived in Rome, where he taught, celebrated mass with different groups, provided spiritual direction, did retreat work, and was a tireless advocate for South Sudan. Father Dave shared with colleagues that he was deeply moved by the faith, hope, resiliency, and trust in God he witnessed among the student community at the Solidarity Teacher Training College during his time in Yambio, South Sudan.
Our sincere condolences to all of those at Saint Mary’s whose lives were touched by Father David Gentry-Akin. A beloved colleague and caring teacher, he will be greatly missed.