Monsignor Robert Trisco, professor emeritus of ecclesiastical history, died Saturday, July 29, 2023, at age 93. Monsignor Trisco was a highly respected scholar, mentor, and valued member of the community. His legacy will forever remain an inspiration to all.
Monsignor Robert Frederick Trisco, born on Nov. 11, 1929, in Chicago, was a distinguished figure in the field of ecclesiastical history. Throughout his career, he demonstrated dedication to academic excellence and a profound commitment to the Catholic Church.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago and later joined Catholic University's faculty in 1959, becoming a professor of Church history in 1975.
“Monsignor Robert Trisco was a towering figure in the field of ecclesiastical history, continuing in the footsteps of Monsignor Peter Guilday and Monsignor John Tracy Ellis, who helped make The Catholic University of America the premier institution for the study of both national and international Church history,” said Aaron Dominguez, University provost and professor of physics. “We are humbled and honored to continue his legacy, and the generosity he showed the University through his bequest of his papers and writings will ensure that countless students will continue to learn from his vast wealth of knowledge.”
Dominguez noted that Monsignor Trisco had an “unwavering commitment to the study of Church history and his dedication to the Catholic Church shall continue to inspire generations of scholars to come.”
Monsignor Trisco earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, in 1951. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago and later joined Catholic University as a professor of Church history in 1959. He served with distinction as the Kelly-Quinn Distinguished Professor of Church History from 1999 until his retirement in 2000. His guidance as the dissertation director for 25 successful doctoral projects in Church history, including that of then-Father, now Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, exemplified his commitment to nurturing future scholars.
An esteemed scholar and historian, Monsignor Trisco played an instrumental role in shaping the discipline of Church history. Then-Father Trisco was a peritus at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). He served as the executive secretary of the American Catholic Historical Association from 1961 to 2009, following in the footsteps of Monsignor John Tracy Ellis. His dedication to preserving historical knowledge extended to his role as managing editor of The Catholic Historical Review from 1963 to 2005. Additionally, he participated actively in various commissions and dialogues, including the International Commission for Comparative Ecclesiastical History and the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.
Monsignor Trisco earned numerous honors, including being named an Honorary Prelate with the title of monsignor in 1992 and a Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary in 2005. He was acknowledged with the title of Decorated Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1993, followed by promotion to the rank of Knight Commander in 1998. In 2019, the American Catholic Historical Association honored him with the Centennial Award in recognition of his achievements in the field of Church history.
In December 2020, he pledged $650,000 in support of the John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library and the study of his discipline at Catholic University.
The wake to honor Monsignor Trisco will take place in the Vincent P. Walter Room of Curley Hall (The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20064) on Sunday, Aug. 6, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A vigil service in remembrance of his life and contributions will commence at 4:00 p.m.
On Monday, Aug. 7, at 10:30 a.m., a funeral Mass will be held in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Additionally, another of Monsignor Trisco’s former doctoral students, Rev. James Garneau of the Diocese of Raleigh, will serve as the homilist, paying tribute to his mentor and friend.