Tobin, John A., 1894-1965

John A. Tobin, SJ was born on June 19, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Cornelius Patrick and Mary Ellen (Keenan) Tobin. Tobin spent one year at the Mechanics Arts High School before transferring to Boston College High School. After graduating from Boston College High School in 1911, Tobin entered the Society of Jesus at the St. Andrew-on-Hudson Novitiate in Poughkeepsie, New York. Tobin was ordained on June 28, 1925. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degrees from Woodstock College in 1917 and 1918 respectively. He studied theology at Woodstock College from 1922 to 1926, and earned a PhD from Gregorian University in Rome in 1931.

Tobin first taught physics in the Student Army Training Course at Boston College from 1918 to 1922. From 1926 to 1928, Tobin served as Chairman and Professor of Physics at Fordham University. He returned to Boston College in 1929, where he taught in the Physics Department until 1954. He served as Chair of the Physics Department and taught courses on modern physics, nuclear physics, and physics and philosophy. Tobin also established the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science degrees in physics. During this period, Tobin also coordinated the Civilian Pilot Training Program, served as Army Faculty Advisor, and assisted the Civil Defense Program. From 1954 until his death in 1965, Tobin served as a Student Counselor at the Boston College Law School and taught theology at the Nursing School.

Throughout his career as a physicist, Tobin remained active in his academic discipline. He authored Laboratory Experiments in Physics in 1932. In addition, Tobin was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the American Physical Society, the New York Academy of Sciences, and Sigma Pi Sigma.

John A. Tobin, SJ died on January 25, 1965, at the age of 70.