James Royce, Jesuit Priest, Dies -- Was Seattle University Professor

The Rev. James Royce, a Jesuit priest who did ground-breaking work in the field of addiction studies, has died. He was 81.

Father Royce died Saturday, Jan. 6, at Providence Medical Center, one day after undergoing hip-replacement surgery, said Paul Blake, a spokesman for Seattle University.

The cause of death was undetermined yesterday, he said.

Father Royce was a professor emeritus of psychology and addiction studies at Seattle University.

He developed and taught what is thought to have been the nation's first standard college course on alcoholism in 1950. In 1973, his expanded alcoholism course became the university's addiction studies program, also thought to be the first in the nation.

In 1971-72, he did a series of ground-breaking television programs on alcoholism in Seattle.

Father Royce, a native of Spokane, served on numerous national and local boards and committees dealing with alcoholism. In 1989, he received the National Council of Alcoholism Marty Mann Founder's Award for lifetime achievement in alcoholism and education.

Father Royce received his doctorate in psychology from Loyola University in Chicago in 1945. He was ordained in 1947 and received his licentiate in sacred theology at Santa Clara University a year later.

He went to work at Seattle University in 1948.

A vigil is scheduled for 7:30 tonight at Campion Tower Chapel on campus, 914 E. Jefferson St. A funeral Mass is scheduled for noon

tomorrow at St. Joseph's Church, 732 18th Ave. E., with burial Thursday at Mount St. Michael in Spokane.

Survivors include a sister, Marjorie DeWeese of Mount Angel, Ore., and two brothers, William Royce of Redwood City, Calif., and Father Thomas Royce, a Jesuit priest in Yakima.