Submitted by: Dan Rich

Br. Evan (Robert) Schmid, C.S.C.,

July 17, 1920 - Dec. 21, 2004

South Bend Tribune 12/26/2004

Brother Evan (Robert) Schmid, C.S.C., 84, died at Dujarie House, Notre Dame, Ind., on Tuesday, December 21, 2004, after a long illness. Br. Evan was born in Oshkosh, Wis., on July 17, 1920, one of five sons born to Alfred J. and Caroline (Nigl) Schmid. Two of his brothers preceded him in death.

From 1926 to 1937, Br. Evan attended Oshkosh Catholic elementary and high schools, then in 1937 he entered Oshkosh Business College, where in 1938 he earned a diploma in secretarial skills. He worked briefly as a clerk and bookkeeper at Swift & Co., then entered the Brothers of Holy Cross at Watertown, Wis., in 1939. He began his novitiate year at Rolling Prairie, Ind., in February 1940, pronouncing his temporary vows in 1941 and his perpetual vows in 1944.

He studied at the University of Notre Dame from 1941-1944, graduating magna cum laude with an A.B. degree in English. After several summer sessions, he was awarded a master's degree in 1952.

From 1944-1947, Br. Evan served on the faculty of Sacred Heart Juniorate, Watertown, Wis., then from 1947-1949 on the faculty of the Vincentian Institute, Albany, N.Y., and from 1949­-1950 on the faculty of Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville, Ind. He contracted tuberculosis in 1950 and for two years he was a patient at Healthwin Hospital in South Bend and the Community Infirmary at Notre Dame.

In 1952, Br. Evan was a member of the staff at the brothers' residence, Columba Hall, Notre Dame, and that same year he taught briefly at Central Catholic High School, South Bend. In 1953, he again required a period of treatment in the infirmary, followed by a short appointment to the candidates' program in Watertown, Wis. He then returned to Notre Dame to serve on the staff of Columba Hall until he was once again assigned to Watertown, where from 1955-1958 he edited the Associate of St. Joseph magazine. Poetry written by him for the magazine was invariably signed with just his initials, "B.E." During these years he underwent periodic medical treatment and continued his recuperation.

In 1958, he began functioning as private secretary to the provincial superior at Notre Dame, a position he held full-time until 1974. During the 1974-1975 school year he also taught on the faculty of Holy Cross Junior College at the Brothers Center at Notre Dame. From 1975-­1980, he once again worked exclusively as secretary to the provincial. Then at Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, Ohio, he became secretary to the headmaster, a post he held from 1980 until 2002, when his health required that he come to Notre Dame to take up residence at Columba Hall on the campus until it was necessary for him to transfer to Dujarie House, the brothers' infirmary.

Br. Evan's outstanding skills as a secretary served many in the community over his 58 years of active ministry. He was known for the accuracy of his unusually rapid typing as well as for his skills as editor. Letters, memos, documents and publications of all kinds were perfectly prepared in an incredibly short time. But Br. Evan was not limited to one type of keyboard, for he played piano and organ as well, and was often organist for liturgical services in houses in which he resided.

An exceptionally brilliant, sensitive man with a penchant for often understated wit and humor, he maintained a relatively quiet and private life-style, a holdover from his earlier days recuperating from his illness. As a pastime, he read a great deal. On the job as private secretary, he exhibited extraordinary prudence in confidential matters that passed through him as secretary to the provincial. Yet, he enjoyed associating with fellow religious, often dining out with them. It was on occasions such as these, as well as in local community celebrations, that his humor and sharp wit were most evident.

Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, in St. Joseph's Chapel, the brothers' Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, 54515 State Road 933. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m., with interment immediately afterward at St. Joseph's Cemetery on the village grounds. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.