1897 – 1966 (February 17)
Edward Valentine Stanford, son of Gorham Stanford and Catherine Fitzpatrick, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 14, 1897. His early education was obtained at Saint Raphael Grammar School, Hyde Park, Boston College High School, and Boston College. At the age of nineteen he entered the Province as a postulant, was received as a novice on June 14, 1917, and professed simple vows on July 23, 1918, and solemn vows on July 23, 1921. After completing his college education, he was awarded an A.B. degree and began theological training at Saint Mary’s Hall, Villanova. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral in Philadelphia on June 10, 1922.
Father Stanford’s first appointment in 1922, was as teacher of descriptive geometry in the Engineering School at Villanova, in which he continued until 1932. Appointed chaplain in 1925 he devised a special technique for religious registration of collegians and originated a spiritual cartoon bulletin. From 1932 to 1944 he was president of the College and was instrumental in establishing the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at Villanova. Deeply involved in all phases of the educational world, Father Stanford was a member of many academic organizations and was the recipient of a half-dozen honorary degrees. He was, at various times, president of the Association of American Colleges, director of Augustinian Schools, chairman of the Selection Board for Navy R.O.T.C, and full time administrative consultant of the Association of American Colleges.
Father Stanford was rector of Augustinian College in Washington, D.C., from 1944 to 1950, after which he helped organize Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington as founding principal in 1950, and prior of the Augustinian community. During this period he organized and directed the Catholic Commission for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs, and wrote textbooks on such varied subjects as Geometry, Marriage, Faith, College Administration, as well as 18 pamphlets, 70 published articles, and 27 book reviews.
It was while carrying out his duties as an official consultant at a meeting of the Board of Trustees at Biscayne College in Miami, Florida, that he was suddenly stricken at the Church of the Resurrection in Dania, Florida, and died on February 17, 1966. Father Stanford is buried in the Community Cemetery at Villanova University. A dormitory at Villanova is named in his honor.
