1899 BEQUEST SOCIETY
JONAS ROEL '92
JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2019-20 35
Jonas Roel ’92 has tremendous
gratitude for having received a
Jesuit education.
“I consider myself very fortunate
to be a Jesuit graduate,” Roel said.
His feelings about Jesuit, however,
might have been a little bit different
during his high school experience.
“By no means was I an exemplary
student!” Roel said. “I broke the record
for Penance Hall's for several
semesters in a row. I think that at
one point I listed "Penance Hall" as
my extracurricular.
“But, there are so many great
experiences which I still hold dear
to my heart. These are experiences
which form you into a man.”
Roel recently joined Jesuit’s 1899
Bequest Society. Bequest Society
members are those who have
indicated in writing that they have
made provisions for Jesuit in their
will or estate plans. Roel has listed
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ry in both a whole and term life
insurance policy.
“In hindsight, Jesuit did so many
great things for me, and I want to
see Jesuit do these great things for
other young men,” Roel said. “Jesuit
imbued in me an incessant desire
to learn and an intellectual curiosity.
It inculcated a sense of solidarity
with others who are like-minded
and with other Jesuit graduates.
Most importantly, it taught me to
be a ‘Man for Others’ – that is, to be
a man of generosity and integrity.
These are qualities which are rapidly
declining in the youth of the
modern age.”
Roel has fond memories of his
classmates, who he still runs into
“every now and again,” as well as
the teachers and staff at Jesuit, particularly
Fr. Michael Kennelly, S.J.
“Once as a senior, I ran into Fr.
Kennelly as I left morning Convocation,
and I had mentioned something
to him about being a good
Catholic,” Roel said. “He replied,
‘We are not just Catholics, we are
the Marines!’ All these years later I
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made.”
Roel has worked in federal service,
studied epidemiology at the
graduate level, and now works in
IT Operations for Konica-Minolta.
He has strong Tampa roots, as his
father was born in Ybor City and
his parents owned Roel & Curry
Funeral Home (now known as Boza
& Roel).
His mother passed away a few
years ago, and every Sunday he
and his father enjoy a meal at their
favorite local Italian restaurant. It
is 28 years since he graduated from
Jesuit, nonetheless Roel says that
when he meets with his dad, “Jesuit
frequently enters into our conversations.”
“As students we learn the Jesuit
ethos of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
For the Greater Glory of God,” Roel
said. “In our maturity I feel that it is
incumbent upon us – as graduates
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that it may continue its mission to
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Jesuit did so many great things for me,
and I want to see Jesuit do these great
things for other young men.