Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Ferdinand Brown, CSC

Dec. 9, 1916 - May 14, 2000

South Bend Tribune 5/16/2000

Father Ferdinand Brown CSC, 83, was born on Dec. 9, 1916, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Louis C. and Stella Louise (Schaefer) Brown. After St. Mary's grade school in Portsmouth, he entered Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame, Ind., in 1930, through contact with the Holy Cross Mission Band which had given a mission in his parish.

He entered St. Joseph's Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, Ind., in 1934 as a member of the first novitiate class there, and pronounced his first vows on Aug. 16, 1935. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1938 and studied theology at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., for four years before his ordination in 1942.

Father Brown received an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mathematics at Notre Dame, and did further studies at Yale University, New Haven, Conn. His priestly ministry was spent at Notre Dame in a variety of ways: residence hall prefect, mathematics teacher, assistant religious superior, then from 1962-1968 as superior of the Corby Community. His service to Notre Dame included positions as Associate Vice-President of Academic Affairs (1968-70, 1978-82), Associate Provost (1970-77), and Acting Provost (1977-78). He also served the Indiana Province as director of studies and co-director of retirement.

In 1995, because of failing health, he lived at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, where he died on Sunday, May 14, after an extended illness.

A vigil service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, in Moreau Seminary, and a Mass of the Resurrection will be at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 18, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame. Burial will follow in the community cemetery. Kaniewski Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.