Submitted by: Dan Rich

Br. Robert James Siegel, C.S.C.

Nov. 4, 1928 - Dec. 30, 2003

South Bend Tribune 12/31/2003

Brother Robert J. Siegel, C.S.C., 75, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, in Dujarie House, Notre Dame, Ind., after a long illness. Br. Robert was born on Nov. 4, 1928, in Sheboygan, Wis., the son of the late George and Erma (Lutz) Siegel, and one of six brothers and one sister, all of who survive.

He attended Holy Name Elementary School and North High School, both of Sheboygan. He began university work at Wisconsin Extension in Sheboygan in 1946 and the same year took classes at Milwaukee State Teachers' College (now U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), completing his B.S. degree in 1951.

An accomplished musician, he played oboe and studied to direct instrumental and choral work as a teacher in school. He held a membership and for years was active in the National Catholic Bandmasters Association.  Just prior to entering Holy Cross, Br. Robert did clerical work for Trilling Hardware Co. He entered the candidate's program for the Brothers of Holy Cross in September 1951, in Watertown, Wis., received the habit of the brothers of St. Joseph's Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, Ind., on Feb. 1, 1952, and made his first profession of vows there a year later. He pronounced his perpetual vows at Notre Dame, Ind., on Aug. 16, 1956.

His first of many assignments was to the faculty at Central Catholic High School, South Bend, Ind. That fall Br. Robert was transferred to Catholic Central H.S., Monroe, Mich., spending five years there enhancing the music curriculum. In 1958 he was named to the faculty of St. Edward H.S., Lakewood, Ohio, in 1966 becoming Assistant Principal for a year, then Principal from 1967-71. That year he was appointed assistant superior at the Holy Cross Brothers Center, Notre Dame, Ind., simultaneously holding the position of Director of Scholastics in Basil Hall at the Center and teaching at Holy Cross Junior College. He continued as Director of Scholastics when the program moved to another site on the College campus. At the same time he became Vice Principal of St. Joseph High School, South Bend, Ind.

In 1977 Br. Robert was assigned to Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron, Ohio. The school year of 1978-79 was a sabbatical for him. After a renewal program in New Mexico, Br. Robert returned to Hoban for another three years. In 1982 he supervised the house of candidates in South Bend for a year, then went back to Hoban for a two-year term as President of the school. In 1985 he served on the staff of the Holy Cross Sisters' study program in Tiberias, Israel, at the Mater Ecclesiae Center, returning to the U.S. in 1987 to edit the HOLY CROSS BROTHERS magazine and teach at St. Joseph H.S. In 1988 he was named superior of the large brothers' community at Columba Hall on the campus of Notre Dame, holding that position until 1991 when he was asked to serve as Assistant Provincial of the Midwest Province. He also was the director of the provincial house local community. In November 1993 he suffered the serious stroke that resulted in his becoming a resident of Dujarie House at the Brothers Center, remaining there until his death.

Br. Robert was a man of many talents, made obvious from the responsible assignments he was called to accept over the years. He served the community training young men discerning their vocation. He held several administrative and music director's roles in the province's schools. He exercised his notable reputation for cooking while in Tiberias. In administration Br. Robert was known for his capacity to fill to overflowing every available cubic inch of space. Yet he knew exactly where to retrieve materials he needed, and his sharp intellect and personable and generous spirit were much harder at work for him and far more effective than perfection of office organization.

The summer home of a circus at Baraboo, Wis., not all that far from Sheboygan, captured Br. Robert's interest and admiration early in life, and he never lost his admiration for the circus as fascinating and wholesome family entertainment. He seized every opportunity, even after his stroke, to attend when a circus was nearby. What he did not know about circuses, the circus personnel themselves did not know. If there have till now been no circuses in heaven, there soon will be, with the Ringmaster's colorful role fittingly filled at last.

Ten years confined in a wheelchair was without doubt a trial for Br. Robert, yet the cheerfulness with which he faced his unexpected limitations after such an active life served as a marvelous lesson to others in patient resignation but also in initiative to take up and accomplish what one has the capacity to do despite limitations. His presence at Dujarie House will be greatly missed.

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, in St. Joseph's Chapel, the brothers' Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, 54515 St. Rd. 933. A Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 3 p.m., with burial immediately afterward at St. Joseph's Cemetery on the Village grounds.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.