NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. George Anthony Rozum, C.S.C., 87, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., on August 8, 2026, after a short illness.
Fr. Rozum was born in Aberdeen, S.D., on February 1, 1939, and was adopted as a baby by Leo and Elsie (Vetter) Rozum. After the death of Elsie when Fr. Rozum was just a boy, Leo remarried Virginia (Dugan), who adopted both Fr. Rozum and his brother John and had five additional children. After graduating from Notre Dame High School in Mitchell, S.D., in 1957, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. Fr. Rozum earned a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1963, and M.A. in Theology from Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C. in 1967. He professed First Vows on August 16, 1961; Final Vows on August 16, 1964; and was ordained a Holy Cross priest on May 5, 1968.
After ordination in 1968, Fr. Rozum served as associate pastor at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin, Tex., where he also ministered to the deaf community within the Diocese of Austin, including two Texas schools for the deaf until 1976. From 1978-2019, he served as rector of Alumni Hall at the University of Notre Dame, earning him the “longest-serving rector in the history of the University of Notre Dame” accolade. From 2019-2024, he served as chaplain at McGlinn Hall at the University of Notre Dame, before residing at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN, where he stayed until his passing.
Preceding Fr. Rozum in death are his parents and his sister Ellen Rozum. He is survived by his brother John F. Rozum; his sisters Anne Bailey, Mary Anderson, Martha Pfeifle and Molly Rozum; and beloved nieces and nephews.
A Wake Service will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate, Notre Dame, Ind. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Ind. You may join via livestream at https://funerals.holycrossusa.org.
Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org.
