By Nicole Hamilton
Enquirer staff writer

Rev. Robert G. Humbert SJ, a Jesuit priest and former principal at St. Xavier High School, died Friday at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich. He was 82.

"He said there was a time in his life when he flipped a coin. If it came up heads he was going to the major leagues. If it came up tails he was going to the Jesuits. And it came up tails," said friend James Gallagher."He was a real man, a strong, good leader, and an incredible people person."

Raised in Cincinnati, Father Humbert attended St. Thomas Aquinas School and St. Xavier High School.

He entered the Society of Jesus at the novitiate in Milford on Aug. 31, 1940.

After graduating from Loyola University in Chicago with degrees in Latin and English, he continued his education at Loyola, where he received a master's in education in guidance and statistics in 1957.

He earned a licentiate in philosophy from West Baden College, and was ordained a priest there on June 17, 1953.

Father Humbert served as an assistant principal at Loyola Academy in Chicago for one year before becoming assistant principal of St. Xavier High School in 1957. He was appointed principal in 1961, and served in that capacity until 1963, when he moved to Oak Park, Ill., to serve as socius to the provincial in Oak Park.

In 1968, he returned to Loyola Academy, first as headmaster and then director of alumni affairs. In 1988 he was named senior alumni and development officer.

He retired to the Colombiere Center in 2002.

Survivors include two sisters, Mary Maloney and Margaret O'Meara.

Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m. Thursday at Loyola Academy, 1100 N. Laramie Ave., Wilmette, Ill.

Mass of Christian burial will follow.

Memorials can be made to the Rev. Robert G. Humbert, SJ Scholarship Endowment at Loyola Academy, 1100 N. Laramie, Wilmette, IL 60091, or to the Jesuit Partnership, 2059 North Sedgwick Ave., Chicago, IL 60614.

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E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com