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Former Dean of Men, All-Male Jesuit Institution
Former Vice President of Student Affairs
Former Athletic Director
Former Alumni Chaplain
Birthdate: June 12, 1928
College: University of Santa Clara (1950), Gonzaga University (1956)
Father Robert Sunderland was born on June 12, 1928, in Denver, CO, and graduated in 1950 with a Degree in Commerce from the University of Santa Clara, where he played basketball. He graduated in 1956 from Gonzaga University with a degree in Philosophy, and then studied at Saint Louis University and at Saint Mary’s College in Kansas. From 1956 to 1959, he taught History, English, and Latin, while coaching basketball, baseball and football at Brophy College Preparatory High School. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in Los Gatos on June 12, 1962.
He began at USF as Dean of Men in 1964, the first year that USF became co-educational, and served in that position until 1968. Art Wilmore, a basketball player in the 1960s said “I remember the priests taking off their collars and playing some great pick-up games. Fr. Robert Sunderland and Fr. John Loschiavo were two of the best (USF Athletics).” He served for three years as Vice President of Student Affairs until 1971. He then spent 10 years as an Editorial Director for KGO-TV in San Francisco and as Commissioner of the West Coast Athletic Conference.
In 1982, Father LoSchiavo suspended the basketball program due to recruiting violations. USF reinstated the program in 1984, with Jim Brovelli as Head Coach, and with Father Sunderland as the Athletic Director. From 1990 on, he served as Alumni Chaplain.
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