LIVES OF THE BRETHREN 1985-1988
This section contains brief biographies of all the members of the province who have died since the First Provincial Chapter.
| Up de Graff, William Linus | June 7, 1985 |
| Carosella, Charles Alphonsus | November 3, 1985 |
| Hickey, John Daniel | January 25, 1987 |
| McNicholas, Raymond W. | November 8, 1987 |
| Johnston, Charles Clement | January 15, 1988 |
Born in Los Angeles, California, on 5 January 1927, William Gray Up de Graff was the son of Thaddeus and Dorothy (Gray) Up de Graff. He attended the Harvard School in North Hollywood, California, and the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, from which he was graduated in 1945. He entered the University of California in Los Angeles and was graduated in 1949 receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science.
He entered the Dominican novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota, and there professed his first vows on 31 August 1954. Upon his vestition he received the religious name Linus.
After his ordination on 4 June 1960, he entered into the parochial ministry and spent almost his entire priestly ministry serving the faithful in parishes in Boyce, Louisiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ponchatoula, Shreveport, and Hammond all in Louisiana.
After many years of devoted service in parochial ministry, Bill entered a sabbatical program at the Aquinas Center of Theology in Atlanta in the fall of 1984. His sabbatical studies being completed in May of 1985, lie was preparing to enter once again into full time ministry and celebrate his silver anniversary of ordination when a tragic airplane accident claimed him for the Lord. He died on 7 June 1985. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond, Louisiana, and interment was in Pasadena, California.
Charles Alphonsus Carosella was born in New York City on 23 November 1906. He
was the son of Alfonso and Julia (Hurley) Carosella. He received his early education at
Holy Name Academy in Brooklyn, New York, and at St. John's Prep in Brooklyn.
After completing two years of college at St. John's College in Brooklyn, he then petitioned Father Raymond Meagher, O.P., Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph, for admission to the Dominican novitiate.
He entered the novitiate at St. Rose Priory near Springfield, Kentucky, and received the religious name, Alphonsus. He made his first profession in the same priory on 16 October 1927. He pursued his philosophical studies at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, and at St. Joseph's Priory in Somerset, Ohio. He completed his theological studies at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
After his ordination on 17 June 1933, he began a priestly ministry that was varied and fulfilling. Immediately after ordination he entered a graduate program at De Paul University in Chicago, Illinois. While pursuing graduate studies he also taught at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he ministered until 1949. From 1949 to 1950 he served as campus minister at Rice University in Houston, Texas. From 1950 until 1953 he was in Jackson, Mississippi, serving as a parish assistant and high school teacher. From 1954 until 1962 Charles ministered in California continuing in his high school ministry and serving as Vicar Provincial for the Dominicans in Los Angeles. Two heart attacks could not keep him down, and lie came to Dubuque, Iowa, where he taught at Immaculate Conception High School. lie came to Louisiana in August 1964 where he served the people at St. Dominic's in New Orleans and as Chaplain at Rosaryville, in Ponchatoula.
From March 1975 until his death of a heart attack on the patronal feast of the province, 3 November 1985, "Spin" was stationed at St. Anthony's in New Orleans where he worked on special projects. After a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony's in New Orleans, he was buried at the Dominican cemetery in Rosaryville.
Jack was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on 6 May 1935, the son of John and Edna (Mooney) Hickey. After completing his secondary education he entered Providence College in Rhode Island. Completing two years of study at Providence College he was accepted for the Dominican novitiate by Terence McDermott, O.P., Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph.
Completing the novitiate year at St. Joseph's Priory near Somerset, Ohio, he pursued philosophical studies at St. Stephen's Priory in Dover, Massachusetts. He completed his theological studies at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. and was ordained in Washington on 14 June 1962.
The whole of Jack's priestly ministry was associated with campus ministry. With innovation and diligence he served as campus minister at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville; the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Memphis; Albany Medical College in Albany; and Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
During his years of ministry he became more and more aware of the social justice dimension of ministry. Due to his efforts Dismas, Inc. came into being. Dismas was a movement to offer a half way house for prisoners being released from prison to live with college students who helped them develop skills for fruitful employment and life in society. Pioneered by Jack, Dismas continues to grow. It is a voice in society calling for responsible penal reform and it serves to acclimate newly released prisoners to a new and changing society.
After a valiant fight with cancer, Jack died on 25 January 1987. After a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter's Church in Memphis, lie was placed to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Memphis.
A son was born to William and Ellen (Flannery) McNicholas on 8 October 1912. He was educated in Chicago where lie went to Mount Carmel High School. After high school he enrolled at De Paul University and Loyola Medical School. After his third year of medical school he enlisted in the Air Force and spent four years in England with the 162nd Fighters' Squadron. At age 34 he entered the Dominican novitiate at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois, where he received the religious name, Raymond. He was professed on 25 June 1947 and continued his philosophical and theological studies.
After ordination to the priesthood on 26 May 1953, he was assigned to Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois. He continued ministry in high school work at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas. From Bishop Lynch High School he was called to be Prior at the Dominican novitiate in Winona, Minnesota, and from there he served as pastor at Holy Ghost Parish in Hammond, Louisiana. After eight years of compassionate service in Hammond he became chaplain at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, where he was loved by the patients and the medical community.
After a short bout with cancer he returned to the Lord on 8 November 1987. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Rosary Church in Houston and interment was in the Dominican Fathers and Brothers plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Houston.
On 6 August 1914, Charles Johnston was born to Francis and Cecilia (Gilronan) Johnston in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended St. Dominic Grammar School in Youngstown and Aquinas High School in Columbus, Ohio. After studies at Providence College in Rhode Island he was accepted into the Dominican Novitiate by Terence McDermott, Provincial of St. Joseph Province.
Entering the novitiate at St. Rose Priory near Springfield, Kentucky, lie received the religious name, Clement. He professed first vows at St. Rose Priory on 12 September 1935. After his philosophical and theological studies lie was ordained to the priesthood on 7 June 1941 at River Forest, Illinois, by Samuel Cardinal Stritch.
After ordination lie began his priestly ministry as associate pastor at Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence, Louisiana, and at St. Helena Church in Amite, Louisiana. He also served as prior and pastor at St. Anthony Church in New Orleans from 1949 until 1952. From 1946 until 1949 and again from 1952 until 1972, lie served as chaplain and professor at St. Xavier College in Chicago; Mount St. Mary College in Salina, Kansas; Dominican College in Racine, Wisconsin; and College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
In 1972 he returned to the parochial ministry at St. Joseph's Church in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, where he became pastor in 1973. Serving devotedly as pastor at St. Joseph's for nine years he went to join the Dominican community at St. Mary's in
Johnson City, Tennessee, while he shepherded the congregation of St. Elizabeth's Church in nearby Elizabethton.
While shoveling snow in front of the rectory he collapsed from a heart attack on 15 January 1988. After a Mass of Christian Burial he was interred in the cemetery at Johnson City.