 |
Rev. Stanley Vesely, 89, a monk
of St. Procopius Abbey and longtime member of the alumni office at Benedictine
University in Lisle, died in the abbey Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003 of congestive
heart failure. Born in Chicago, Father Vesely was the son of Bohemian immigrants,
whose uncle, the late Rev. Cosmas Vesely, also was a monk of St. Procopius
Abbey. Father Vesely's childhood memories were filled with attending services
at Blessed Agnes Catholic Church in Chicago and making regular trips to
the Abbey to visit his uncle. In 1927, Father Vesely enrolled as a student
at St. Procopius Academy in Lisle. He continued his education at the adjoining
college, now known as Benedictine University, later joining the monastic
community and professing his vows in 1934. For eight years after his ordination
to the priesthood in 1940, Father Vesely was a prefect at the academy, where
he served as a dorm director. He also coached baseball and basketball, and
taught religion and Latin. He went on to receive a master's degree in religious
education from The Catholic University of America in 1943. "During high
school, he was a particularly good baseball player, so coaching came naturally
to him," said his longtime colleague and friend, Rev. James Flint. "He was
a good role model in that he was a very conscientious individual who taught
his players a lot of life skills that went beyond the playing field." Father
Vesely also assisted with the athletic program at St. Joseph's Orphanage
in Lisle for the last three years before that institution closed in 1956.
|
|
He then began a five-year assignment
as athletic director of St. Procopius College, from 1956 to 1961. Later,
he was appointed chaplain of Sacred Heart Monastery and Academy. After
retiring from teaching in 1974, Father Vesely began what he called his
second career with the college's alumni office, where he kept in touch
with former graduates and helped organize fundraising events. A master
of the pun and an enthusiast for the school's sports program, colleagues
said Father Vesely was a well-liked and much-revered figure on campus.
Although the passage of time brought increasing heart and knee problems,
Father Vesely continued attending baseball and basketball games, and assisting
in the alumni office. In 1994, the college's baseball field was named
in his honor. For many years, Father Vesely also was a weekend assistant
at nearby parishes such as St. Joseph in Rockdale and St. Mary of Celle
in Berwyn. From 1980 until 1999, he acted as chaplain of the Mothers and
Friends Club of St. Procopius Abbey.
Chicago
Tribune January 14, 2003
|