1934 – 2017
Words of Remembrance for Brother Thomas Chadwick, FSC
Given by Brother Leo Smith, FSC
Mass of Christian Burial
La Salle College High School, Wyndmoor, PA
February 15, 2017
Brothers, Father Edward, Eileen and Liz, and all of Tom’s family, Sister Janice (IHM), and all of Tom’s many friends, we gather this evening to lift up our prayers for Tom and to remember a life that has touched the lives of so many people. As I thought about Tom and prayed for him these last few days, I asked myself if there was some phrase that might highlight a theme for Tom’s life, a word or two that would capture the spirit that ran through his life. And the phrase, A Man for All Seasons, the title of the play about Thomas Moore came to mind. Tom’s life as a Brother provides us with an example of a man always ready to take on whatever the need might be and whatever the superiors might ask him to do. Looking back, that turned out to be just about every position one could have throughout our province: teacher, vice principal, principal, counselor, formation director, sub-director of novices, development director, assistant director of the Lasallian volunteer program, community director, moderator of the Mothers’ Club, and on and on. He touched all the bases and in many different places and circumstances. When we pronounce our vows as Brothers, we say in part: “to go wherever I may be sent and to do whatever I may be assigned, either by the Body of the Society, or by its Superiors.” Tom certainly lived that out. Availability—that sterling quality that embodies concretely the scriptural response: “Here I am Lord. Send me.” Tom was always ready. I’m sure he could never have dreamed how his life would unfold as we began our journey as Brothers on June 15, 1953—what doors would open and what would beckon him, year after year, to new stages of life, growth, and service. And those of us who started with him that June day, undoubtedly, have had the same experience—how many surprises lay in the future!
For us, the Brothers, the name we use—Brother—is not to be just a title; it is to remind us daily who we are to be at our center, in our heart, and how we are to be in relationship with everyone—with one another as Christian Brothers, with each person we meet no matter how serious or superficial the contact may be, but especially, it directs and guides us to be older Brothers to the young men and women we teach and mentor. It means that wherever we are, we try to generate and foster that spirit of brotherhood/sisterhood, so needed in our world today. I think we all know that spirit was alive in Tom. It was the way that he related to and dealt with each one of us. He was Brother through and through in a completely natural way—it was who he was. He delighted in bringing people together to celebrate and to simply enjoy one another’s company. And this he did for many years. We are grateful for the initiative he took and the gracious hospitality he displayed that were so characteristic of who he was.
I think I can say that we Brothers usually don’t wear our religion on our sleeves. Our spirituality, our life of faith, our relationship with God is grounded deeply within our hearts. It is our desire and hope that it expresses itself continuously in everything we do and in every contact and conversation through caring, respect, and sensitivity, through kindness and attentiveness, through love and affection. Was that not Tom?—the gospel preached in friendship, in kindness, and in caring. I’m sure St. Francis of Assisi would say “Amen” to that approach as would our founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle.
Eileen and Liz, (Tom’s sisters), you know the depth of affection that Tom had for you, and he also knew how much you cared for him and loved him. He always looked forward to a Sunday afternoon visit with you or a few days at holiday time. He certainly cherished the trips you took to various and sundry places here and abroad. Memories for a lifetime—some in photos but many, just experiences held in the heart.
It is interesting– the little things that one remembers. I often picked Tom up if we were going somewhere from here at La Salle or on Kennedy Boulevard where Eileen and Liz live. One thing I knew for certain—he would have in his hand a pen and a folded copy of the page of the Inquirer that showed the “Jumble” puzzle that he loved to work on every day. He was a sly fox when we played cards—our favorite being a game called Phase 10. He would seem to have nothing, at least his expression seemed to say that, but he would then lay down the winning hand and give us that knowing smile. And for me, personally, his simple, “Hi there!” when he answered his cell phone. We carry the small moments as treasures.
During these recent years, Tom was burdened with a series of physical ills, some of which the doctors were not able to remedy. For Tom, it meant bearing with and learning to be patient, to accept what seemed to be his lot and to live with that. Ultimately, that is what he did, and what all of us are called to do.
May I end with a short poem that reconnects us to that time nearly fifty years ago when Tom taught English at West Catholic. The poem is called Messenger by Mary Oliver.
Messenger
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
Which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these bodily clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.
Maybe Tom is saying to us tonight: don’t miss those hummingbirds, don’t overlook the sunflowers. Be still once in a while and let yourself be astonished, give a little shout of joy or at least feel it in your heart—and know that we will all live forever.
Yes, Tom, a man for all seasons. May you rest in peace. We are going to miss you.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brother Thomas Chadwick, FSC
Born Thomas Joseph Chadwick in Philadelphia, PA, on December 5, 1934
Entered the Ammendale, MD Novitiate on June 15, 1953
Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Declan Kieran, on September 7, 1953
Pronounced Perpetual Vows at Ocean Rest, NJ on August 27, 1959
Died at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ on February 8, 2017
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Viewing from 5:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Mass of Christian Burial at 7:30 pm
La Salle College High School Auditorium
8605 Cheltenham Avenue
Wyndmoor, PA 19038-7199
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Beltsville, (Ammendale), MD
Burial in Brothers’ Cemetery at 12:00 pm (Noon)
Lunch to follow
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER THOMAS:
District: 50 masses
De La Salle Hall community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Thomas died peacefully after a period of time in hospice care. May he rest in peace.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1954-1958
Elkins Park, PA
Scholasticate
1958-1962
Philadelphia, PA
West Catholic Boys HS
teacher
1962-1965
Pittsburgh, PA
South Hills Catholic HS
teacher
1965-1969
Pittsburgh, PA
South Hills Catholic HS
vice principal
1969-1971
Pittsburgh, PA
South Hills Catholic HS
guidance counselor
1971-1972
Shiremanstown, PA
Trinity High School
principal
1972-1974
Philadelphia, PA
De La Salle in Towne
teacher
(Res: Spring Garden St., dir.)
1974-1975
Philadelphia, PA
District Aspirancy Director
Director, Jeremy House
1975-1976
Audubon, PA
District Aspirancy Director
(Residence: St. Gabriel’s Hall)
1976-1977
Audubon, PA
St. Gabriel’s Hall
vice principal
1977-1981
Audubon, PA
St. Gabriel’s Hall
assistant administrator
1981-1985
Skaneateles, NY
Novitiate
sub-director
1985-1987
Philadelphia, PA
De La Salle in Towne
teacher
(Residence: Spring Garden St.)
1987-1988
Philadelphia, PA
St. Philip Neri School
principal
1988-1996
Wyndmoor, PA
La Salle College HS
guidance
(Cmty. Dir. 1989-1992)
1996-1999
Washington, D.C.
National Office
assistant director, Lasallian Volunteers
1999-2001
Philadelphia, PA
Associate Director, Development
(Residence: Jeremy House)
2001-2004
Wyndmoor, PA
Director, St. La Salle Auxiliary
(Residence: La Salle H S)
2004-2015
Wyndmoor, PA
La Salle College HS
retired
2015-2016
Beltsville, MD
La Salle Hall
retired
2016-2017
Lincroft, NJ
De La Salle Hall
retired