| CURIA GENERALIZIA MARIANISTI Death Notice No. 12 (To all Unit Administrations): April 20, 2006 The Province of the United States of America, recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother, JOSEPH O’MEARA, who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on April 14, 2006 in St. Louis Missouri in the 85th year of his age and the 65th year of his religious profession. Joseph Vincent O’Meara was born February 15, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, one of eight children of Thomas and Winifred (Currell) O’Meara. After attending grade schools in St. Louis and Chicago, Bro. Joseph graduated from South Side Catholic High School (now St. Mary’s High School) in St. Louis. Marianist Brother Jim Powers, whom Bro. Joseph called an “inspirational teacher” at South Side, recruited him to the Society of Mary in 1940. After graduation he entered the novitiate at Maryhurst in Kirkwood, Missouri, and Marynook in Galesville, Wisconsin. Bro. Joseph professed first vows on August 25, 1941, and perpetual vows July 16, 1947. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton in 1943 and a master’s degree in mathematics from Northwestern University in 1952. Bro. Joseph served as an educator in Illinois, Texas and Missouri. Although he taught religion, social studies and Spanish, he was most gifted as a math teacher. “Everything he did, he did with passion,” said Fr. Dave Paul, a former student of Bro. Joseph’s. “He was fiery in the classroom. If Joe O’Meara couldn’t teach you math, no one could.” After a short stint at St. Michael’s in Chicago, Illinois, in 1944, Bro. Joseph taught at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas, for five years. In 1949, he returned to St. Louis and for almost the next 40 years taught high school math at McBride, St. Mary’s, Assumption in East St. Louis and St. John Vianney. He also moderated math clubs and bowling, and coached basketball, tennis and cross-country. During these years, he served on the Council of Heads of Math Departments of Diocesan High Schools. In 1986, Bro. Joseph retired from classroom teaching. According to his friend of 61 years, Fr. Joe Uvietta, Bro. Joseph spent his retired years assisting his fellow brothers wherever help was needed. “He was the chauffeur, cook, coupon-wielding shopper and a regular at the bridge table.” Bro. Joseph’s health had been deteriorating for several years. A few weeks ago he was diagnosed with leukemia and died shortly thereafter in hospice care at Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. May he rest in peace.
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