Submitted by: Dan Rich

Brother Francis Paul Rotsaert CSC

Sept. 4, 1938 - July 9, 2007

South Bnd Tribune 7/11/2007
SOUTH BEND - Brother Francis Paul Rotsaert, CSC, 68, former principal of St. Joseph's High School, passed away on Monday, July 9, at Dujarie House on the campus of Holy Cross Village. He had suffered a stroke in October 2002, yet maintained a warm and courageous attitude until the time of his death. Brother Frank was born in Cleveland, OH, the son of Peter and Teresa (Gillotti) Rotsaert on September 4, 1938. He graduated from the brothers' St. Edward High School in Lakewood, and entered Holy Cross in 1956.

He made his first vows in Rolling Prairie in 1957 and his perpetual profession at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in 1960. This year he celebrated his 50th anniversary of profession in June with his family and several of the brothers at Dujarie House. His strength as a teacher was in the field of English - particularly American Literature. He taught at schools in Watertown, WI, River Grove, IL, Monroe, MI, as well as his hometown of Cleveland. Much of his career was centered at St. Joseph's High School, South Bend, where he served from 1964 to 1966 and from 1967 to 1980. Br. Frank's classes were exciting and highly motivating and his former students still remember him with affection. Several visited him during his time at Dujarie House.

From 1970 to 1980 he served as assistant principal and then the principal at St. Joe's. He served there during a time of great change and he met every challenge that came his way. Following his tenure as principal, he studied at the University of Toronto and then became rector of Holy Cross Hall on the campus of Notre Dame. During the time he served as rector, he also taught at the University and at Holy Cross College. In 1985 he began doctoral studies at Indiana University, Bloomington. He accepted an offer to teach at Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI, where he worked for 13 years. During this time he published poems and stories, helped his students to publish theirs, and taught a very popular course on "Baseball in American Literature." In 1995 he was awarded the Sister Eileen Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching at Siena Heights. It was while teaching at Adrian that Br. Frank suffered the seriously incapacitating stroke that brought him to reside at Dujarie House in the Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame. Surviving are two brothers, William and Lawrence, and a sister, Beverly Kelly, along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: at Dujarie House, viewing and Mass on Thursday at 11 a.m.; a formal viewing at 1 p.m. in St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of Holy Cross Village will be followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 3 p.m. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery will take place immediately following the Mass. Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.