1936 – 2023
Brother Louis Jaeger, FSC
Born Louis Charles Jaeger in New York NY on 19 October 1936
Entered the Barrytown NY Novitiate on 3 February 1955
Received the Religious Habit and Name Conall Louis on 14 May 1955
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Barrytown NY on 15 August 1961
Died at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring MD on 10 January 2023
WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE for BROTHER LOUIS JAEGER, FSC
Given by Joseph Burke, Cousin to Brother Louis
Mass of Christian Burial
La Salle Hall Chapel
January 17, 2023
Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words about our cousin, Brother Lou Jaeger.
He was an only child and spent most summers at their family farm in upstate New York. Although born and raised in New York City, he always considered himself to be a country boy at heart.
He was devoted to his family and always wanted to be included in family parties and events. When he still had his mobility, he spent most holidays with various family members. Brother Lou was also my sister Barbara’s godfather and my cousin Bill’s confirmation sponsor.
To me, he was larger than life and distant at the same time. This was caused by our age difference and his assignment, teaching at Saint Mary’s High School in Waltham, Massachusetts. We really didn’t have the opportunity to spend much time together until he was transferred to Mater Christi High School in Queens, New York.
In 1965 he was transferred to Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn. This was a little traumatic for me because I started as a freshman there at the same time. As it was the custom at the time, Brother Lou would often invite two or three other Brothers to our family functions. It made for some interesting dinner conversation with my dad when one of the Brothers was my teacher.
Brother Lou loved the beach. During summers, he would often call my mom and invite several of my brothers and sisters to spend the day there. My mom was always more than thrilled to send us off for the day. He also loved to travel. For many years, he served as an adult sponsor of high school students visiting France over the summer. The good news is that he took hundreds of photos during those trips. The not so good news is that upon his return, the cousins were subject to extensive slide shows of his trips! On the hottest and most humid night of the summer, we would gather in the living room of his mom’s house with the windows closed to eliminate drafts and we watched the show. Brother Lou was enthusiastic and loved everything French. But I have to admit, after viewing some twenty plus slides on a single French bakery, we would all start to drift off. I am not sure he ever noticed as he never returned home with fewer than five hundred new slides!
During this time, Brother Lou also received the National Science Foundation’s grant to study in France for several months thus enhancing his already considerable French language skills.
He spent most of the 1980s at the La Salle Military Academy in Oakdale, New York. During summers he hosted large family gatherings on the grounds.
During Christmas breaks, he often served as a big brother to the younger male cousins. He invited Bill, Peter, and Richie to spend a week at La Salle Military Academy playing sports, swimming, target shooting, participating in underage driving lessons there and just hanging out with each other. Bill told me that he really enjoyed the visits as he didn’t have an older brother, and it was a rare occasion when he had the chance to spend time with his cousins.
On the departure to Kenya, the family hosted a large family and friend’s turkey dinner for over one hundred people at La Salle Military Academy. It was a huge success!
While in Kenya, he often encouraged family members to visit. My sister Barbara went and had a great time. They spent a few days at a beach resort on the Indian Ocean. On one occasion, there, they were warned not to leave the resort grounds. A bit later, Brother Lou ignored the warning and took Barbara for a walk on the beach outside the resort. They were soon stopped by several guys demanding Lou’s sneakers. They were more than surprised when he responded in Swahili asking to trade shoes. They chatted for a while with Brother Lou who explained that he was a teacher at St. Mary’s Boys school in Nyeri which defused the situation. As Lou told me later, things just work differently in KENYA!
After retiring from teaching, he lived at the St. Peter’s Boys High School Brothers’ house for eleven years. Although formally retired, he spent his free time assisting the school’s drama club with its various productions. While there, his cousins would link up with him every few months to enjoy dinner at a local German restaurant.
For the past ten years or so, Brother Lou would spend a week with Kathy and me over the Labor Day weekend. He loved the Maryland eastern shore as it reminded him of his childhood in upstate New York. We would always have a barbeque with our daughter Kathy Marie’s family joining us. Several times we joined them at a state park where they were camping with their RV.
My wife Kathy shared a special bond with Brother Lou as they both loved cooking international dishes and watching science fiction TV shows. We often kidded that she was the daughter that he never had. She spoiled him rotten and he loved it.
Over the past year, his mobility continued to worsen, but his mind remained sharp. He could recall conversations we had had five or ten years ago. I was always amazed.
Although he didn’t have the opportunity to spend a lot of time at the Beltsville La Salle Hall, he really enjoyed the community and the wonderful facility. I wish he had moved there earlier.
Brother Lou loved the Christian Brothers, the church, and his extended family.
He will be missed!
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Tuesday, 17 January 2023
Visitation – 10.30am to 11.00am
Funeral Mass – 11.00am
La Salle Hall Chapel
6001 Ammendale Road · Beltsville MD 20705
Reception following
Saturday, 21 January 2023
Rite of Committal & Final Commendation – 10.00am
Christian Brothers Center Cemetery
635 Ocean Road · Narragansett RI 02882
Brother Louis died peacefully on Tuesday morning after a brief respite in hospice care.
The District of Eastern North America remembers Brother Louis with memorial liturgies according to the tradition of the Institute. Through their prayers, communities and individuals entrust Brother Louis to God’s loving care.
May he rest in peace.
ASSIGNMENTS
1956–1960
Washington DC
De La Salle College (scholasticate)
1960–1963
Waltham MA
Saint Mary’s High School
1963–1965
Astoria NY
Mater Christi High School
1965–1980
Brooklyn NY
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
1980–1981
Santa Fe NM
Sangre de Cristo (renewal)
1981–1990
Oakdale NY
La Salle Military Academy
1990
Chicago IL
Maryknoll Missionary Program (1st semester)
1991–1996
Nyeri Kenya
Saint Mary’s Boys Secondary School
1996–1997
Oakdale NY
La Salle Center
1997
Santa Fe NM
Sangre de Cristo (renewal: 1st semester)
1997–2005
Providence RI
La Salle Academy
2005–2008
Providence RI
La Salle Academy (resident)
2008–2009
Providence RI
Miguel House Community (resident)
2009–2011
Oakdale NY
Christian Brothers Community (resident)
2011–2022
Staten Island NY
Saint Peter’s Boys High School (resident)
2022
Beltsville MD
La Salle Hall (resident)
RIP bro🙏
Brother Louis was a good friend. He , Brother Nicholas Picciano and I would have wonderful times together. He will be missed. Rest In Peace Louis and continue your travels. Yours in St. LaSalle with love always. RIP
Just saying Hi! I taught at LA Salle Academy in Providence from “67 to “70 when I left the Institute. Were you assigned there my last year?
Please give my best regards to Nick Picciano. We must have been atfLaSalle also.
After graduating Loughlin in ’62, I did the novitiate in Narragansett.. I never met Bro. Louis , but still get the Lasallian Notes.
Kinda sketchy, but I have fond memories from those 8 years.
Hope you’re well and staying safe.
I lived and worked with Brother Louis in Oakdale where he served in many ministries.
He was a community Brother, very devoted to Holy Mass, community prayer, and community activities.
I respected his devotion to the Institute, to his family, and to individual Brothers.
His love for the students and colleagues at Bishop Loughlin M.H.S . was always evident.
May the God who called him to His service bring him to His heavenly reward.
I liked Bro. Louis very much too. I had him for only one class at LSMA though…I think it was when I was living in 300 South.
I taught with Brother Louis as a member of the Christian Brothers community at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School 1966-1969.
As a young Christian Brother, I was impressed with his devotion to his role as a teacher. He was a master teacher, very devoted to his students, and a true follower of St. LaSalle.
I have many memories of him.
Paul Wolski
This is Erich Mille. I graduated Catholic U. In ’67. Weren’t you a year ahead? Maybe we even “worked ” in the tailor shop.
I have fond memories of my 8 years in the Institute , having graduated Loughlin in ’62
Hoping you’re well and staying safe.
Brother Louis was at LSMA my last 2 years of high school. He was a great guy (total character) and some of us used to love to get him going about the French Army and Dien Bien Phu:). As I push 60 i think of those days and the men whose vocation was to really make us men for others. I remain in their debt….
Steve McGiff
LSMA 1982
Having attended Loughlin from 65-69 , I was fortunate to cross paths with Frere Louis . Although I did well in most classes , I’m pretty sure I was a huge dissapointment in French when he asked me my name and I responded “Je suis une cravate “. Still, he was hugely suppportive.
Great guy and put up with teenagers in the late 60’s 🙂
Larry Wadalavage