2024
Fr. Timothy Dwyer, 89, died on Nov. 18, 2024, in San Antonio, TX, with 70 years of religious profession.
His obituary is forthcoming and will be posted as soon as possible.
Click here to see pictures of Fr. Timothy through the years.
Bro. Kevin Whelan, 83, died on Sept. 27, 2024, in Cupertino, CA, with 65 years of religious profession.
Brother Kevin was a beloved teacher, guidance counselor, vocational mentor, social worker, and driver’s education instructor who devoted his professional career to shaping young lives, and who cherished the opportunity to help people embrace a path of salvation in Christ. Brother Kevin took to heart the motto he chose upon taking first vows – “Duc in altum” (Launch out into the deep) – joyfully accepting every assignment he was offered as a Marianist, even those he found personally challenging.
Fr. Christian Aloysius Janson, 83, died on Sept. 14, 2024, in San Antonio, TX, with 64 years of religious profession. Father Cris, born in St. Louis, MO, was one of 14 siblings. He was a beloved teacher, pastor, chaplain, campus minister, and vocation director who considered learning “the core passion” of his life. As a young man in formation, Cris noted that he had “no special desire to be sent to the missions.” Still, his priestly ministry would take him to Mexico for 16 years. He literally came to be identified by this mission work, adopting “Cris” as his nickname because it was easier for Spanish speakers to pronounce.
Bro. Gerard “Jerry” Anthony Sullivan, 93, died on Aug. 3, 2024, in San Antonio, TX, with 73 years of religious profession. Bro. Jerry was a beloved teacher, substance abuse counselor, pastoral associate, retreat leader, and prison chaplain, as well as a grateful friend of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He thought of his life in the Society of Mary as “an incredible adventure,” once writing that “I get on my knees every night and thank Mary and God for the wonderful gift of my vocation.”
Bro. John Richard Lemker, 91, died on July 4, 2024, in Centerville, OH, with 72 years of religious profession. Bro. John was a beloved teacher, religious formator, and acclaimed photographer whose images appeared in prominent publications such as Time-Life Books and International Wildlife, as well as anchoring Gallery St. John at Mount Saint John in Dayton, Ohio. He considered his work “behind the lens” a form of prayer.
Fr. Joseph Donald Cahill, 95, died on June 18, 2024, in San Antonio, TX, with 74 years of religious profession. A gentle-mannered and well-traveled priest, Father Don was a pastor, chaplain, counselor, and teacher at numerous schools, parishes, and communities. He wanted to use his priesthood to bring others closer to Christ and his Mother.
Bro. Frank (Paco) Gomes, 83, died on March 13, 2024, in Cupertino, CA, with 64 years of religious profession. Known affectionately as Brother Paco, Brother Frank served in teaching ministries for more than 30 years both in his native Hawaii and in Mexico. He also devoted much of his energy toward promoting Hispanic culture in the schools where he served and in community support organizations.
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2023
Fr. Gerald Chinchar, 80, died on October 28, 2023, in San Antonio, TX, with 61 years of religious profession. Father Jerry was a beloved liturgist, campus minister, catechist, teacher,
organist, and composer of liturgical music. Blessed with a knack for catching on to computer technologies, he became known in some circles as the “techno priest.”
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Bro. Francis Richard Heyer, 102, died on October 19, 2023, with 83 years of religious profession. At the time of his death, Brother Francis was the oldest Marianist in the world.
Dedicated to the success of every student he encountered, Brother Francis was revered as a teacher – one who credited his “mature alliance” with Mary as the reason his own work bore fruit in the classroom.
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Bro. Albert George Kuntemeier, 93, died on October 13, 2023, with 75 years of religious profession. Brother Al was a teacher, a counselor, a coach, a chaplain, a tennis player, and a joyful extrovert. Over the course of more than 60 years of ministry, he touched the lives of all those in his orbit with his friendliness, positive spirit, and dedication to the Blessed Mother.
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Bro. James Patrick Brown, 82, died on October 15, 2023, with 63 years of religious profession. Bro. Jim was a teacher, a business manager, a fundraiser, and a storyteller who
generously dedicated his life in service to Mary. He was a person of deep faith, gratitude, and prayer whose smile and humor delighted and inspired those who were blessed to know him.
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Fr. Francis Walter Schorp, 91, died on February 19, 2023, with 70 years of religious profession. He was a beloved teacher, chaplain, and passionate advocate of life-long learning. Remembered for his deep knowledge regarding a variety of topics, he influenced generations of students, colleagues, family members, and friends to relentlessly pursue what he called the “ultimate truth.” He supported, both in his conversations and thoughtful essays, a desire to integrate the things of the world and the things of God.
Fr. Anthony Gerard Jansen, 98, died on January 27, 2023, in San Antonio, TX, with 79 years of religious profession. Father Tony was a cheerful, tireless Marianist who ministered as a teacher and chaplain for more than six decades. For 40 of these years, he was a pillar of Matero Boys Secondary School in Lusaka, Zambia, a community that captured his heart and filled him with joy and purpose. He called his time at Matero “wonderful years and a challenging mission.”
Fr. Donald James Wallace, 86, died on January 25, 2023, in San Antonio, TX, with 67 years of religious profession. Father Don was a priest, of the Comunidad Marianista San José, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was a beloved teacher, chaplain, counselor, administrator, and community director. Revered for his prayerful spirit, attentiveness, and determination, he touched the lives of many by generously sharing his deep faith, devotion to Mary, wisdom, and ministry of presence.
Bro. Michael John Galvin, 81, died on January 1, 2023, with 63 years of religious profession. He was a beloved teacher, linguist, counselor, administrator, and tireless advocate for the immigrant communities he served. He drew energy and strength from his experience of Marianist community life, crediting it as “the key for my happiness” and counting it as “the greatest blessing among many” he’d experienced in his life.
2022
Bro. Alva Gillis, 92, died on December 31, 2022, with 37 years of religious profession. Brother Al was a pastoral minister, a maintenance worker, and a valued volunteer. His varied life experience enabled him to connect easily with people. Brother Al had an unusual path to the Marianist brotherhood. He entered the novitiate at age 53, following a 25-year marriage that blessed him with six children but ended in a painful divorce. Despite this atypical route, Brother Al is remembered as a committed and generous Marianist.
Bro James Maus, 79, died on October 26, 2022, in the Marianist Residence Community, San Antonio, Texas, with 60 years of religious profession. Brother Jim was a gentle, warm-hearted teacher and counselor whose long ministry was devoted to teens at high schools in Wisconsin, Texas and Missouri. He often said he felt blessed to guide young people on their journeys toward maturity, and over the course of 47 years of ministry, he touched the lives of thousands of young people.
Bro. Harry Cornell
, 81, died on Sept. 19, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas, with 63 years of religious profession. Known as the “Voice of the Buttons,” Brother Harry was considered an icon at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, where he served on staff for more than 60 years – working as a beloved teacher, coach, club moderator and public address announcer at sporting events, graduations and academic ceremonies.
Bro. Robert Juenemann, 87, died on July 28, 2022, in Cupertino, California with 66 years of religious profession. Brother Robert “Bob” was a beloved fund-raiser and builder who used the work of his hands to strengthen the financial position of his Marianist community when it foundered during difficult economic times – and his gift of interpersonal engagement to establish a donor base that ultimately would sustain and grow various Marianist ministries for generations to come.
Fr. Patrick Philbin, 89, died on July 25, 2022, in Orange, California with 69 years of religious profession. Father Patrick was a gentle, affable teacher who felt blessed to engage with a remarkable diversity of students during his long ministry. As he celebrated his 70th anniversary of profession and 50th anniversary of ordination in 2022, Father Patrick wrote of his work in Vietnam, “In retirement, this continues to be a joy beyond my fondest imaginings as a young Marianist religious.”
Bro. Frank O’Donnell, 79, died on July 22, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland with 62 years of religious profession. Brother Francis “Frank” was a tireless advocate for the marginalized, devoting his life to procuring opportunities for and defending the rights of those in need. He was an attorney, legislative expert, teacher, administrator, librarian, novice master and community director. He is perhaps best known as a champion of civil rights who worked in the Maryland legislature and served on numerous boards for legal services groups, religious communities, Marianist schools and social justice organizations.
Bro. Jerome Matz, 81, died on July 12, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas, with 62 years of religious profession. Brother Jerome “Jerry” was a beloved teacher, professor, college administrator, survey researcher and sociologist. Known for his gracious spirit of hospitality and inclusivity, Brother Jerry also took great satisfaction in his decades of survey research that supported the efforts of various religious congregations, dioceses, parishes and business organizations to strengthen their sense of mission.
Bro. Robert Hanss, 88, died on July 10, 2022, with 66 years of religious profession. Brother Robert “Bob” was a beloved teacher, professor, geologist, missionary, novice master and community director. While devoting much of his life to the classroom, he felt particularly blessed by the years he spent in parish ministry – work that brought him in close touch with the poor and gave him a new “way to know Jesus.
Fr. Stephen Tutas, 95, died on April 16, 2022, in Cupertino, California. Father Steve was a giant in the Society of Mary. He was a man of quiet intelligence, steadfast hope and exceptional leadership abilities. He served as Superior General of the Society of Mary from 1971 to 1981. He was among the five Marianists instrumental in the creation of Chaminade University of Honolulu, and he served as president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. He also was chair of the Transition Coordinating Committee, shepherding the consolidation of four American provinces into the Province of the United States in 2002.
Bro. Peter Pontolillo, 83, died on April 12, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas, with 64 years of religious profession. Brother Peter was a beloved teacher and nationally-recognized school administrator, superintendent, and educational lobbyist who also served for a decade as Secretary General of the Society of Mary in Rome, Italy. His leadership skills to advance Catholic education for more than 30 years earned him awards presented by the Ford Motor Company, the NCEA, Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine, and Apple Computer.
Fr. Robert Hackel, 89, died on March 20, 2022, with 70 years of religious profession. Father Bob (as he was best known) was a beloved teacher, chaplain, community director, missionary and associate pastor. Beyond faithfully exercising his priestly duties in a variety of assignments, Father Bob is remembered for his interest in politics and his fascination with “feathered fowl.”
Bro. Francis Spaeth, 98, died on March 16, 2022. Bro. Frank was an accomplished teacher, administrator and coach whose career in education spanned more than 50 years and religious profession 78 years. He was also a World War II veteran. Upon moving to Cupertino, he became an avid rosary-maker, hand-fashioning more than 1,000 rosaries in the course of a decade.
Fr. Jim Bartlett, 85, January 10, 2022. Fr. Jim was a beloved teacher, pastor, campus minister, and spiritual director. Remembered affectionately for both his playful sense of humor and joyful spirituality, Father Jim always treasured the opportunity to be present and available to those he encountered. He believed deeply in the lay apostolate decreed by Vatican II and worked throughout his adult life to encourage and empower laypeople to fully embrace their role as leaders of the Christian community.
Fr. Joseph Uvietta, 90, January 9, 2022. Fr. Joseph Uvietta was a gentle pastor and an effective administrator, known for his warmth, his spirituality and his love of a good joke. He was a teacher, a chaplain, a popular retreat leader and held top leadership positions in the St. Louis Province. In his seven decades of ministry, he collected innumerable friends, each of whom would attest to his happy grace.
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