Elsaesser, Herman F.

Br. Herman Elsaesser, SJ, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio died on September 24, 2010 at Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, Michigan. “He not only made major contributions to our education, but more importantly to our formation as Catholic men,” recalls Richard J. Brennan, a 1954 graduate of Saint Ignatius College Prep and a student of Br. Elsaesser. “Sixty years later some of us still gather to reminisce about our fortunate experiences at Ignatius. Almost always the inspiration, dedication, leadership, and understanding of Herman Elsaesser is recalled.”

Br. Elsaesser, known to his friends as a “jack-of-all-trades”, was born to Anthony and Bertha Elsaesser on October 15, 1919. After graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1937, he attended Xavier University for just one year before entering the Jesuits on September 1, 1938. He later earned a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University in 1942. Br. Elsaesser went to study classics at the former West Baden College in West Baden, Indiana, until 1945. He then taught at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland until 1946, when he went to teach at Saint Ignatius College Prep (then St. Ignatius) in Chicago until 1951.

After SICP Br. Elsaesser began a four-year training program in carpentry, which was to be his work for the remainder of his career. After studying and working as a carpenter for five years, he returned to Saint Ignatius College Prep to teach until 1959. He then taught at Loyola Academy until 1970, when he returned to Cincinnati for graduate studies in Classics at Xavier University and to teach at Covington Latin School. Br. Elsaesser took a short sabbatical to return to Xavier University to earn his master’s degree in Classics. He spent the remainder of his years visiting nursing homes and tending to the needs of his fellow Jesuits before joining the Colombiere Center community in 1992.

Fr. William Verbryke, SJ, expressed what a kind and gentle man Herman was, “he was exemplary in how he cared for and tended to his fellow Jesuits and family, in particular, Br. McNamara and his great aunt Marie.” Fr. Verbryke also spoke of Br. Elsaesser’s willingness to care for others. He explained, “One day Herm came to me and said that he felt the need to make himself available to go to the Colombiere Center because he read that people of his age were living longer and therefore needed to care for those older than himself. He wanted to make himself available to be of service to those older than him.” At this point, Br. Elsaesser was already in his seventies. “This was his spirit of generosity, kindness, and gentleness.”