Words of Remembrance for Brother Joseph Loewenstein, FSC
written by Faculty and Friends at Bethlehem University
February, 2021
Bethlehem University mourns the death of Brother Joseph Loewenstein, FSC (affectionately known as Brother Joe) the first Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University.
Brother Joe passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on Thursday, 18 February 2021, at the De La Salle Hall Nursing Home for the Brothers in Eastern North America.
Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, Brother Peter Bray, FSC, said “We thank God for the life of Brother Joe and the amazing way he enriched the lives of so many people here at Bethlehem University.”
Brother Joe was a permanent fixture at Bethlehem University for most of its existence – educating thousands of teachers, civil society and business leaders, parents, nurses, scientists, and Church workers. He has been recognized by many for his devoted work in Palestine, particularly with those living in Palestinian refugee camps as he spent over 42 years in Bethlehem.
Brother Joe, you touched the hearts of many of us here at Bethlehem University as well as people in other places where you have served as a Brother. We are grateful to God, to your family, and to you for sharing your life with us and in doing so enriching our lives. We bid you a final farewell filled with fond memories. May you rest in peace.
Brother Joseph Loewenstein was born in Queens, New York, in 1925 where he grew up alongside two siblings during the depression. He attended an elementary school run by Dominican Sisters, the parochial school of the Brooklyn diocese of Elmhurst, Queens. The diocese offered scholarships for students to its secondary school, Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, which was run by the De La Salle Christian Brothers.
Brother Joe’s genuine interest in and compassion with students stems from his time at Lincoln Hall Correctional School for Boys, where he worked for four years between 1956 and 1960.
Before coming to Bethlehem, he had completed his doctorate in Education at UCLA, specializing in Administration and Supervision. This topic had garnered his interest while working in Kenya with the Kikuyu tribe at a teachers training school and later as headmaster of a secondary school in the same area. It wasn’t an easy time to be in Kenya, in the aftermath of the Mau Mau uprising and the subsequent independence from colonial Britain.
When Brother Joe came to Bethlehem University in 1975, he was ready for a new challenge. First, he taught for a while without assuming a leadership position, after which he became the first Vice Chancellor and passionately took up leading the new university. Bethlehem University had only opened its doors in 1973 and not all educational facilities were yet on track.
Brother Joe proceeded to enlist new people to lead the faculties and established deanships to decentralize leadership. He also added Nursing to the curriculum after requests from local doctors. Nowadays, the Nursing program is one of Bethlehem University’s most successful programs.
While teaching at Bethlehem University, Brother Joe has also been a member of the CNEWA family for a long time. For several years, in the 1980’s, he served as the director of CNEWA’s regional office in Jerusalem.
From the day he arrived, Brother Joe’s passion was making university-level education available to young Palestinians. He loved working with individual students as a tutor and mentor, and he did everything he could to procure financial aid to help those students most in need.
In 2013, ·Brother Joe was honored with a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. The fellow Lasallian university conferred the doctorates during its celebration of De La Salle Week and its founding 100 years ago.
At 15 years old, Brother Joe left home to go to a training school for boys interested in joining the Brothers. He graduated in 1943 and went to Novitiate for one year’s training in the Brotherhood, after which he enrolled in Catholic University in Washington D.C. His class was sent to various schools after three years, before completing their Bachelor’s degrees, since there was a shortage of teachers during World War II.
At the 2017 graduation ceremony, the mayor of Bethlehem made Brother Joe an honorary citizen of Bethlehem – his second home. Brother Joe received a standing ovation from students and families alike in tribute to his dedicated service to the community.
In August 2017, Brother Joe took a very difficult decision for him which was to enter De La Salle Hall for elderly and physically ill Brothers. In his farewell note to the Bethlehem University community, Brother Joe wrote “I am sincerely grateful to all of you, faculty, staff, students for your concern for me and for your friendship over the years. I will never forget the experience of living in Palestine and working with you all these years particularly these last couple of years when I began to show my age.”
In recognition of his extraordinary service to Bethlehem University, Brother Joe was invested as an Honorary Patron of the Bethlehem University Foundation in 2018.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
Brother Joseph Loewenstein, FSC
1925 – 2021
Born Joseph Bennett Loewenstein in Astoria NY on 25 October 1925
Entered the Barrytown NY Novitiate on 23 June 1943
Received the Religious Habit and Name Bernardine of Mary on 7 September 1943
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Oakdale NY in 1950
Died at De La Salle Hall in Lincroft NJ on 18 February 2021
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Monday, 22 February 2021 – 9.30am
A private interment will take place at Saint Gabriel’s Cemetery – Marlboro NJ
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on a date yet to be determined.
Brother Joseph died peacefully on Thursday afternoon after a brief respite in hospice care.
The District of Eastern North America remembers Brother Joseph with memorial liturgies according to the tradition of the Institute. Through their prayers, communities and individuals entrust Brother Joseph to God’s loving care.
May he rest in peace.
ASSIGNMENTS
1944–1947
Washington DC
The Catholic University of America and De La Salle College (scholasticate)
1947–1950
New York NY
La Salle Academy
1950–1955
Detroit MI
De La Salle Collegiate
1955–1960
Lincolndale NY
Lincoln Hall
1960–1969
Thomsons Falls Kenya
Laikipia High School
1969–1972
Los Angeles CA
University of California Los Angeles (studies)
1972–1972
Santa Fe NM
Sangre de Cristo (1st semester)
1972–1975
Los Angeles CA
University of California Los Angeles (studies)
1975–1982
Bethlehem Palestine
Bethlehem University
1982–1985
Jerusalem Israel
Pontifical Mission
1985–1992
Bethlehem Palestine
Bethlehem University
1992–1999
Lincroft NJ
De La Salle Hall
1999–2017
Bethlehem Palestine
Bethlehem University
2017–2021
Lincroft NJ
De La Salle Hall (resident)
Brother Joe so loved the University of Bethlehem, the Palestinian people and the Holy Land.
He wanted to return. Now he is in another Holy Land and at peace. I was with Joe when he died at De La Salle Hall and it was peaceful. I am thankful for that moment with him.
I visited with Brother Joe for 4 days at the Brothers house at Bethlehem University in December 2015 where he was in charge of “hospitality” at the time. He was generous with his time and showed us first time visitors around the University. I could sense that this was a gentle and holy man. The memory of Brother Joseph and the other Brothers in the community will never be forgotten.
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