Born in 1942 in Philadelphia within the shadows of St. Martin of Tours Church, the parish was central to my family’s community activities and my early academic life. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary taught some 3,300 students there. I transitioned to La Salle College High School (at the time, on the campus of La Salle College-now- University). It was here that a freshman counselor piqued my youthful interest in possibly becoming a Brother, something to which I must have given a knee-jerk affirmative response that I would soon forget. In my senior year, that invitation was repeated but this time prompting more thoughtful response to the call.
Thus, was launched my sixty-four-year journey highlighted by increasing confidence as a religious educator and administrator. My first assignment was to Hudson Catholic, something I looked forward to, as both the school and I were starting that same year. I first taught typing even though the classroom typewriters had yet to arrive. Many of the boys knew me as the Brother who ordered that their digits remain properly curved on the imaginary keyboards.
While my background is in mathematics and science, administration became a significant portion of my life’s work—spanning many educational settings including private schools and youth-care institutions, as well as diocesan & District administration.
The foresight of that freshman counselor to ask me about becoming a Brother must have resonated quite deeply. Along the way I encountered inspirational Brothers who furthered my deep respect for their ministry and for them as persons. I hope that the vision of John Baptist de La Salle will still draw young men to embrace the noble ministry of teaching and pursue the vocation as a Brother, finding therein a lifelong calling worthy of their life’s work and vocation.
