1941 – 2022
Brother Joseph Myers, FSC
Born Joseph Patrick Myers in Canton OH on 19 June 1941
Entered the Ammendale MD Novitiate on 15 June 1959
Received the Religious Habit and Name Joseph Titus on 7 September 1959
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Philadelphia PA on 30 August 1966
Died at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank NJ on 17 August 2022
Words of Remembrance for Brother Joseph Myers, FSC
Written and delivered by Brother Richard Kestler, FSC
with input from Brother Joseph Mahon, FSC and Brother Kevin Stanton, FSC
Mass of Christian Burial
De La Salle Chapel
Lincroft, NJ
August 25, 2022
June 15, 1959, found Joseph Patrick Myers travelling from Canton, Ohio, to Ammendale, Maryland, to begin a life journey as a Brother of the Christian Schools. Brother Joe celebrated sixty-two years as a community member, teacher, and mentor of youth.
Joe was born the son of Kenneth and Margaret Myers; he had five siblings. His brother Michael and sister Mary Margaret are his surviving siblings
A graduate of Central Catholic, Canton, Ohio, Joe was one of a small group of men who entered the community from this school while the Brothers staffed the school.
Joe’s ministry was varied and ranged from Washington, D.C. to northern Jersey, across Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Joe served in a total of nine ministries. In each assignment, Joe impacted his students, the community, and colleagues. Joe marched to a unique melody, but this uniqueness endeared him to both the community and his students.
Most of his assignments included the teaching of religion and mechanical drawing. I had the privilege of living with Joe in three different assignments. I remember well my first administrative post. Since Joe and I were living in the same community at the time, I went to Joe, knowing of his enthusiasm about his change in assignment, and asked if he could work with me, although we had some differences in style. “Sure enough” was his simple response to me. This expression was to be associated with Joe across many years.
I lived with Joe in his prime. He embodied the best of rural Ohio with the “Wisdom of the East.” His simplicity captivated his students and left them trying to figure him out.
Joe was among the early Brothers adapting their religion classes to the signs of the times. Vatican Council had occurred, and more contemporary music formed the background to his classes. Most of us when passing his religion class could skip to the beat but had a hard time figuring out how all of this brought student and God closer to one another
Joe always had a knack for attracting students who didn’t quite “fit in.” He founded in one school a bike club that allowed the non- jocks to develop their stamina and strength. Weekend trips along the Delaware Canal for twenty or more miles was not extraordinary.
After classes, Joe could be found outside working “his field.” At La Salle College High, Joe created a pathway to the lower athletic fields by carrying railroad ties from one end of the property, up and over a small hill, to their new location as steps to this athletic complex. Joe’s idea was, that now, parents and fans might have an easier way to cheer on their team.
A second project was the brick patio behind the community house at LSCHS and his clearing under-growth on the upper lawn behind this house. Joe definitely enjoyed working with his hands.
On one occasion while we lived at Hudson Catholic in Jersey City, Joe celebrated his birthday by walking a mile for each of his years. On this occasion he was thirty-four and so he marched from lower Manhattan to Kennedy Airport and back, only to find he was a mile or two off so he proceeded north to Central Park and back down to the PATH subway home to Jersey City.
Young students recognized Joe’s uniqueness and appreciated a different type of Brother. When Joe would come over to the school dances, he was always the collector of those guys just not quite ready for serious dancing. (Honestly, it was a chore for Joe to attend these dances himself.)
As a result of his heavy work, he began to develop eyes problems. Luckily his new doctor proved to be the mother of one of his bikers. She took particular care of her son’s favorite Brother.
One who spoke to me recently of Joe’s passing reminded me of Joe’s expression “Sure Enough”. It seems that this simple motto had a profound impact upon many students and colleagues across the years. We might reflect for a moment just how important these simple words were for Joe and the impact they had upon many who were his students and colleagues.
Brothers who lived with Joe in Yeadon, remember his spending weekends and other days off taking public transportation into Center City to “wander around.” Standing tall in the crowd, cane in hand, he liked to visit used bookstores and engage the homeless along the way, some of whom he would get to know by name. Observing these regular outings, the community suspected that a fair portion of his stipend often found its way to the needy he would encounter there.
In his Ammendale years, Joe’s eyesight deteriorated and so he depended more on his hearing. But once he recognized a voice, he was known to say “Hello “xx”.
Joe’s “rounds” of the campus were legendary. He was a tinkerer and so, no doubt he found many small projects over these years to occupy his time.
May Joe now enjoy the rewards of his well lived life and a warm welcome from his students who preceded him. May he now shine among the stars for all eternity.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Thursday, 25 August 2022
Funeral Mass – 4.30pm
De La Salle Hall
810 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft NJ 07738
Saturday, 27 August 2022
Graveside Ceremony & Interment – 11.30am
De La Salle Cemetery
6001 Ammendale Road
Beltsville MD 20705
Brother Joseph died Wednesday evening as a result of cardiac issues.
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
1960–1963
Elkins Park PA
La Salle College (scholasticate)
1963–1965
Baltimore MD
Calvert Hall College High School
1965–1966
Canton OH
Central Catholic High School
1966–1973
Jersey City NJ
Hudson Catholic High School
1973–1978
Philadelphia PA
West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys
1978–1983
Pittsburgh PA
Central Catholic High School
1983–1986
Washington DC
Saint John’s College High School
1986–1987
Philadelphia PA
Saint Philip Neri Elementary School
1987–1999
Wyndmoor PA
La Salle College High School
1999–2002
Baltimore MD
Saint Frances Academy
2002–2005
Cumberland MD
Bishop Walsh High School
2005–2015
Philadelphia PA
West Philadelphia Catholic High School
2015–2021
Beltsville MD
La Salle Hall (resident)
2021–2022
Lincroft NJ
De La Salle Hall (resident)
I lived with Joe his one year at Central Catholic in Canton. A god community man and most pleasant.
At Hudson Catholic Br. Joe was our teacher, our mentor and our friend. He helped us begin the legacy of the Hawk Drama Society’s stage crew in 1966. I offer my condolences to all of Br. Joe’s Brothers, to his family and to our DeLaSalle family. Thank you Br. Joe for being my teacher. Adios Larry Basinski.
He had the true spirit of teaching and was a great role model for young men. I only had him for one English course, but I remember it fondly. He was a tireless worker for Jesus. May God Bless
May Brother Joe rest in peace.
Very sorry to hear about Br. Joe’s passing…He was my Religion II teacher at Hudson Catholic…Once you met him you couldn’t forget him…One of the best educators of life I ever met…He made every one feel good about ourselves in the truest LaSallian tradition…I’ve modeled my Catechetical ministry on his (among others) classroom demeanor…Condolences to his family and friends.
I had Br. Joe at Hudson Catholic in 1971 for English I. He sparked my life-long love of reading. He made everyone feel important. He was always in a good mood and had a great rapport with his students. I recall we were both fans of Mary Tyler Moore, whose tv show in 1971 was very popular. He encouraged discussions of pop culture.