James Patrick Elliott was born on July 21, 1929 along with his twin brother Thomas, in Atlantic City, NY to James P. Elliott and Delia Lavin. He was baptized on August 4, 1929 at Saint James Church in Ventnor, NJ. He attended Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish school and after graduation in 1943 spent a year at Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City, NY. In September of 1944 he transferred to Augustinian Academy on Staten Island, NY, where he was accepted as a postulant. In 1947 he graduated and that September he entered the novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel located on the Hudson River in New York. He professed simple vows on September 10, 1948 and three years later solemn vows at Saint Mary’s Hall, the collegiate seminary on the campus of Villanova College, Villanova, PA. In 1952 Jim graduated from Villanova with a B.A. degree and began the study of theology at Augustinian College in Washington, DC. During the summers he took graduate courses in economics at the nearby Catholic University of America. On October 28, 1955 Jim was ordained a priest at the Church of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx, NY. Following ordination he continued his theology and graduate studies receiving a master’s degree in economics from Catholic University in 1959 and a master’s degree in education from Villanova University in 1967. During the academic year 1967-1968 he took part-time courses in curriculum planning at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Like many ordained around his time, Father Elliott believed in the value of secondary education as a Province apostolate. From 1956 to 1970 he taught religion, English, and social studies at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, PA, and served as director of studies. In 1970 he was named headmaster of Austin Preparatory School, Reading, MA, and while there he undertook a revision of the school curriculum. In 1973 he returned to Bonner as director of studies. In 1979 Father Elliott was named prior and treasurer of Augustinian College, the theological residence in Washington, DC. From 1982 to 1986 he was associate pastor of Saint Mary’s Church in Lawrence, MA. In 1987 he went to Saint John Neumann High School, Golden Gate, FL, to lend his expertise in curriculum planning. He returned to Saint Mary’s, Lawrence, in 1988. Father Elliott underwent a serious operation for a chronic heart condition in 1991 and upon recovering requested an assignment. In the fall of 1992 he was assigned to Saint Augustine Church in Andover, MA, with the understanding that he would limit his activities. Despite precautions his heart began to fail and he entered the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH, for treatment. It was here that he died on February 12, 1993.

Father Elliott was survived by his twin brother, Thomas, and other brother, Patrick, and two sisters. His uncle, John Joseph Elliott, born in Ireland, entered the Order as Brother Brenan in 1961 and died in 1986.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on February 15 at Saint Augustine Church, Andover, MA. The homilist was Father Arthur D. Johnson, O.S.A. The following day Mass was celebrated at the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova on the university campus. The homilist was Father Harry J. Erdlen, O.S.A. Internment was the following morning, February 17, in the Augustinian plot of Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.

†