Submitted by: Dan Rich

Br. Francis Englert CSC

May 14, 1922 - Jan. 23, 2007

South Bend Tribune 1/25/2007
SOUTH BEND - Brother Francis Englert, CSC, 84, died after a long illness on January 23, 2007, in Dujarie House, Holy Cross Village. Br. Francis was born on May 14, 1922, in Fullerton, PA, the son of John G. and Barbara J. Englert. He attended elementary school at St. Mary's in Catasauqua, PA, from 1928 to 1936, then, moving with the family to Barberton, OH. He attended high school at Barberton Central from 1936-40. From 1940 to 1942 he worked as a draftsman at Babcock and Wilcox Co., then served in the military during World War II from 1942-45 on Adak Island in the Aleutian chain.

In January 1946 Br. Francis entered the candidacy program of the Holy Cross Brothers in Watertown, WI, and in August of that year he began his novitiate program at St. Joseph's Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, IN. He pronounced his first temporary vows in August 1947 and was sent to study for his bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame. He completed his undergraduate studies there in 1951, a year after he had taken his perpetual vows.

Br. Francis's first teaching assignment became a lengthy tour at Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, OH, form 1951-67. That year he moved across Cleveland to St. Edward High School, Lakewood, where he taught and was superior of the Brother's Community there form 1967-68. He returned to Gilmour Academy as headmaster for the 1968-69 year, then remained on the faculty from 1969-76. He was appointed assistant provincial of the Midwest Province at Notre Dame, IN, from 1976-79, following which he spent a sabbatical year studying spirituality at the University of Toronto in Canada. He came from there to Holy Cross Junior College and taught from 1990-94. From 1983-94 he was also on the staff of the Solitude of St. Joseph, the brothers' retreat house on the campus of Notre Dame. He retired in 1994, residing at the provincial house at Notre Dame until 1996 when his illness made it necessary for him to reside at Dujarie House, the brothers' infirmary at Notre Dame. Br. Francis was scholarly both in appearance and in fact. As an undergraduate he had been greatly influenced at Notre Dame by the University's Frank O'Malley. Br. Francis became an excellent teacher of both English and philosophy at Holy Cross College. He was also a serious student of the many works of the Trappist monk, Fr. Louis, O.C.S.O. (Thomas Merton).

Br. Francis left a very positive impression on Gilmour Academy, where he had taught and been an administrator for 25 years, from 1951-76, with the exception of the one year at St. Edward High School. He was a vibrant community man. His interest in artistic pursuits enabled him to be a knowledgeable and challenging conversationalist. His brilliant smile made others feel welcome and quite at ease with him. His training and literary pursuits encouraged him to write articles both for province publications and the Juggler, Notre Dame's literary magazine.