1931-2014
Words of Remembrance for Brother Bart Schlachter, FSC
Given by Brother Andrew Bartley, FSC
September 7, 2014
Memorial Liturgy
La Salle College High School Student Chapel, Wyndmoor, PA
The day before he died, Brother Bart passed his assembled confreres as he was carried out the front door of his home for almost twenty years, to an ambulance waiting to take him to the Christian Brothers’ Nursing Home in Lincroft, New Jersey.
As he passed his concerned friends, he smiled, waved, and tried to speak. To me, he seemed triumphantly happy. And why not? Bart was taking another trip, living another adventure—and we’re here this morning to celebrate the fact that in God’s plan, our Brother was going home.
Soon after getting word of Bart’s passing, the community received the following note from Bart’s former teacher, Sister Ita Duffy:
Word of Brother Bart’s leaving us has just arrived. I’ve been saying prayers for the happy repose of his dear soul. Brother Bart and I go back a long time in our association. He was in my fifth grade class when I taught at Penn’s Grove, New Jersey. Since then, we have communicated regularly. I have always found him a good student, eager to learn. At 95, I figure I shall soon see Bart again, and we shall have much to converse about.
To Bart, friendships were enduring. Brother was a man of many gifts and several names. Born Joseph John Fisher (later Schlachter), he spent a number of years as Brother Francis Bartholomew and the rest of his life as Brother Bart (to which his brother Bart occasionally and jokingly voiced his objection).
For more than sixty years at ten assignments, he shared his gifts with students and other friends he met along the way. He was at ease with almost everyone. His years as counselor and Dean of Students enabled him to communicate effectively with youth and peers of any grouping.
In many ways, he worked to form community with those he loved—his family, colleagues, former students, YMCA and AA members, his co-parishioners at Saint Vincent de Paul parish—all were groups who met his needs to share and care.
A month after learning that for the third time in his life, cancer had returned to do battle, members of all these communities visited him to support him and say “Thank You” or “good bye.”
It was so like Bart to say, “Let’s do lunch. Come by around noon, and would you bring lunch.” It was amazing so many met those terms.
Brother Bart was a good listener—especially if the topic interested him. Others felt that he was genuinely interested in their challenges, opinions, and goals.
He was a world traveler who made lifelong friends—and potential hosts—in every part of the planet. Although he appreciated nature and landmarks, the main attraction of his trips was for him—people—with whom he magically communicated and often befriended. He truly enjoyed being a senior citizen. It meant cheaper fares and, in many cultures, greater respect from younger people.
With retirement from the educational apostolate, Bart could invest more time in several of his favorite concerns. The Church and its challenges were given more attention. Suffice it to say that if Bart were Pope, the Church would, indeed, be somewhat different. For example: We know that Pope Bart’s list of those to be canonized would include a host of valiant women like his own mother, nuns who had taught him, Dorothy Day, and others he had admired for their goodness offered to the parts of the world they touched.
Answering a strong call to service, Bart sought out the poor, the homeless, the addicted, the marginalized, and helped them by offering friendship and love. In many instances the offering was efficacious because in his time, the giver had faced similar challenges…and won!!!
Within his religious community, Bart especially enjoyed the give and take of everyday life. Everyone knew that Bart detested sports and would not be surprised to hear him ask a question like, “Was there some kind of big game played yesterday?” The answer was, of course, “Yes, it was the Super Bowl. To which Bart might add, “What sport is that?” Just for shock value, Bart might inform listeners, “Did any of you know I won several letters for sports in high school?”
Later Bart would admit that there were only twelve boys in his class so they all had to play any sport offered. His two claims to fame came in football, his least favored sport, first, when he stumbled and accidentally fell on the loose ball for his only career fumble recovery. The other performance involved a rainy day game when Bart found himself on top of a huge opponent who had given him a rough afternoon. Here, Bart, our distinguished letterman, would smile broadly and say, “I pushed his face right into the mud. What a great day that was!”
To keep Bart moving along, all one would have to say was something like, “Boy, isn’t it surprising that that college was offered forty million to play pro ball next year?” Bart would murmur something like, “Yeah, for playing a game while millions have nothing!” He would then quietly leave the scene.
Although he might have left the scene, Brother Bart remains in our hearts forever. Wasn’t it just like him—the Giver—to donate his body to help others live better lives?
When asked what she would want inscribed on her tombstone, Dorothy Day, who had renounced everything to serve the poor, promptly replied, “Deo Gratias.” On this special day of remembrance, all of us who knew Brother Bart can joyfully echo, “Thanks be to God!
May he rest in peace.
Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Br. Bart Schlachter, FSC
Born Joseph John Schlachter in Penns Grove, NJ, on May 29, 1931
Entered the Ammendale, MD, Novitiate on June 16, 1952
Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Francis Bartholomew, on September 7, 1952
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Ammendale, MD, on August 29, 1958
Br. Bart died at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ, on August 17, 2014
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Brother Bart donated his body to Humanity Gifts Registry, a non-profit agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, concerned primarily with the receipt and distribution of bodies donated to all medical and dental schools in the state for teaching purposes. Studies for medical education and research will take up to two years or longer to complete. Upon completion of studies, Brother Bart’s remains will be cremated and the ashes will be delivered to the Eatontown Provincial office. The cremains will then be transported to the Brothers’ cemetery in Ammendale, MD, where they will be buried.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Memorial Liturgy at 10:00 am
La Salle College High School Student Chapel
8605 Cheltenham Avenue
Wyndmoor, PA 19038-7199
Reception to follow
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER BART
District: 50 masses
La Salle College High School community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Bart was transported by ambulance from La Salle High School to De La Salle Hall late Saturday afternoon. He died peacefully at De La Salle Hall early Sunday morning, less than twelve hours after his arrival. May he rest in peace.
Assignments
1953-1957
Elkins Park, PA
Scholasticate
1957-1961
teacher
Arlington, VA
Bishop Denis J. O’Connell H S
1961-1964
guidance
Pittsburgh, PA
Central Catholic H S
1964-1966
vice principal
Canton, OH
Central Catholic H S
1966-1976
vice principal (’66-’75); guidance (’75-’76)
Cumberland, MD
Bishop Walsh H S
1976-1978
guidance and community director
Pittsburgh, PA
South Hills Catholic H S
1978-1983
asst. director (’80-’83); guidance
Philadelphia, PA
De La Salle in Towne
1983-1987
dean of students
Memphis, TN
Christian Brothers College
1987-1995
guidance
Jersey City, NJ
Hudson Catholic H S
1995-2014
resident
Wyndmoor, PA
La Salle College H S
2014-2014
resident
Lincroft, NJ
De La Salle Hall
Bart was a good friend whom I met through Siloam where he had been a volunteer. We made several wonderful trips together, including one on the Trans Siberian Railroad and another down the Amazon. His enthusiasm and sense of adventure inspired me, as did his openness and his kindness. I will miss him very much.
One of God’s most special gifts in my life, Bart embodied St. LaSalle’s charism of faith and zeal. Faith in God’s abiding love for His people and Zeal to live life to its fullest. I am truly blessed to have lived and loved Bart! Everlasting peace to you, Bart. Love, Tony
Bart was a good and cherished friend, not only to me, but to many. For those who need to know, the St. Vincent’s community is planning a memorial celebration on Saturday, October 4th, where there will be much more room than at the Brothers’ chapel.
I believe he is much more with us now than he ever was when we could see him. And I believe he rests in bliss.
We met Bart through St. Vincent de Paul Parish. He was a beloved member of our small spirituality group and great fun to be with. We’ll miss his presence!
Brother Bart was a close friend of our family. The friendship began in 1966 in Cumberland, MD. My parents had so much respect for Br. Bart that they named my youngest brother after him – Bart Kelly. We were fortunate to spend several hours with Bart the Sunday before he died. He was at peace with things and happy to have the opportunity to visit with those he loved. While visiting with Bart, he read a brief summary of an article he had recently written about his experience of accompanying a homeless man who required surgery to the hospital. The man told the nurses and doctors that Bart was his grandfather. Bart went along with the story because he sensed the man longed to have family who cared about him. Bart reminded us after reading the article to us to love EVERYONE, regardless of their circumstances, and that just by listening to people will help them even if you can not change their circumstances. Bart was a loving man who will be missed by everyone who was blessed to know him.
Jerry Reidy
I was a “Johnny Come Lately” in Brother Bart’s remarkable life. We didn’t meet until about seven years ago His joy and zest for life taught me you can overcome any obstacle. My life has been immeasurably enriched by our friendship. I miss you every day Bart
I had the pleasure of meeting Brother Joe at the Twp library where he was a frequent and wonderful patron. Over the last few years he shared his travel experiences with me. I even had the challenging task of helping him navigate his way through the application process for a visa to visit Cuba! Always interested in what all the LaSalle grads in my family were up to, he never failed to assure me they were in his prayers!
When he told us he was ill he did so with the same spirit and peace of mind that he lived his last several years. I will miss his stories and enthusiasm for life. Rest in Peace Brother
The joy of knowing Bro. Bart surpasses any grief we feel at this time. Bart was a story teller and we loved listening to him tell of his life experiences and travels. He possessed a great sense of humor. He will be missed but never forgotten, living on in our memories and our hearts.
There is a small but interesting error in the above. Bart was not born Joseph Schlachter, but Joseph Fisher. Bart did not know his dad who died. Some time later, Bart’s mother married Mr. Schlachter. Bart loved him and asked if he would adopt him somewhere around 8th grade. A couple of years ago, when trying to renew his passport in the post 9/11 security, he found out that they had no record of him. It seems like there was a final step in his adoption that was never finished. Trenton did have a record of a Joseph Fisher, but after all of those years, he had no way of proving he was a that person. It took a while, but all got straightened out with the help of his sister. I had driven him to a number of offices in Trenton and he was somewhat shaken when they told him that in all of those trips he made, had he ever lost his passport, he would have had considerable problems trying to get back to the U.S. But I guess God takes good care of those who show as much love for their fellow man as Bart did and so he never lost it.
I was informed only last night by one of the Filipino brothers here in Manila that Bart passed away last month. I am still in shock. He was planning to take another trip here during the last quarter of this year.
I met Bart when I taught at Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City. He and I became fast friends. I was living in Manhattan that time so during weekends we would meet up for a walk, or visit a museum or watch a play.
When I returned to the Philippines we continued to be in touch. He came to visit about 3 times. He would tell me stories about his volunteer work and I was just in awe listening to the wonderful things he was doing then. I was so inspired by his zeal in being around people who needed a helping hand that I wished for myself to do the same thing as he did.
I will miss Bart. He was a true friend and Brother. A good man.
I am still in shock after being informed of Bart’s demise by one of my Filipino La Salle Brother friend here in Manila last night. Although Bart informed me of his health condition last July, he was happily planning another trip to the Philippines this last quarter of the year.
Bart and I worked together at Hudson Catholic between 1988 to 1990. We became very good friends and shared many common interests. Since I was residing in Manhattan that time, we would meet up on some weekends to walk around Central Park, or visit museums, or have coffee in the Village, and we talked and shared and enjoyed each other’s company.
When I returned to the Philippines, he took it upon himself to visit me and the Brothers in Manila. He told me stories of his volunteer work which made me admire him very much. I told myself to do the same thing when I go into “retirement”.
I will miss Bart. He was a good man, a wonderful, cheerful and thoughtful friend.
Farewell, dear friend. My thoughts and prayers go with you always.
Very late in commenting; Bart was truly a “mensch”; he knew who he was and made room for many to be who God created them to be. Live Jesus in Our Hearts, Brother Bart!