The Province of the United States of America recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother, LEO ROTHERMICH, who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on January 1, 2007, in San Antonio, Texas, in the 96th year of his age and the 78th year of his religious profession.

Bro. Leo was born Oscar Leon Rothermich on November 30, 1911, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Henry and Anna (Backer) Rothermich. He attended St. Pius V grade school, where he first recognized his calling to religious life at the age of 10. After two years of becoming acquainted with the Marianists while attending McBride High School, he entered the postulate at Maryhurst in St. Louis in 1927. “I felt Almighty God wanted me to join a religious order and everything pointed me in the direction of the Society of Mary,” said Bro. Leo in a 1928 letter to the Provincial.

He professed first vows in 1929 at Maryhurst and final vows in 1933 at Chaminade College Preparatory in St. Louis. In 1930, Bro. Leo graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in English and began a 60-year career in education, teaching English, religion, Latin and mathematics. He also served as principal, athletic director and coach, as well as the moderator of sodalities, school papers, speech and debate teams.

Bro. Leo’s first assignment was at Cathedral High School in Belleville, Illinois, from 1930 to 1934. His principal and director, Bro. John Hettich, decided that neither Oscar nor Leon, Bro. Leo’s given names, was suitable for a new brother. Bro. John renamed him Leo, and the name endured.

Bro. Leo’s high school teaching continued at St. Mary’s and McBride in St. Louis, Central Catholic in San Antonio, Holy Redeemer in Detroit and St. Michael’s in Chicago. From 1949 to 1966, Bro. Leo served as assistant principal, and principal and director of several high schools, including: St. Joseph’s in Victoria, Texas; Assumption in East St. Louis, Illinois; St. Mary’s in St. Louis; and St. Michael’s in Chicago. He also taught summer school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

In 1966, Bro. Leo began a 24-year assignment as business manager at Chaminade College Preparatory school in St. Louis. In 1990, he moved to St. Mary’s High School in St. Louis and performed similar duties until 1999. While at St. Mary’s, Bro. Leo volunteered at Incarnate Word Hospital in St. Louis.

“I admired Bro. Leo and he inspired me to be faithful to my vocation,” said Bro. Lorenzo McBride, who lived with Bro. Leo for 13 years at Chaminade. “We were of different generations, but this never diminished my admiration for him. He was a noble and good example, and he was always dedicated to his work.”

In his Marianist communities, Bro. Leo served as a director, sub-director and treasurer and worked with Marianist affiliates. In 1999, Bro. Leo moved to the Marianist Residence healthcare center in San Antonio. In 2004, he celebrated his 75th jubilee as a Marianist brother. “He was very committed to being with the community in prayer,” said Bro. Bill Chewning. “Even most recently, he was always in chapel in his wheelchair.”

Bro. Chewning also remembers Bro. Leo as an avid golfer who organized a golf tournament for the brothers for several years. Bro. Leo also enjoyed basketball, baseball and reading. “Bro Leo participated in our student volunteer program and enjoyed lasting friendships with students beyond graduation. He mailed out hundreds of Christmas cards every year,” said Fay Bourgeois, director of operations at the Marianist Residence in San Antonio.

May he rest in peace.