According to brain-teaser wizard Aziz Inan, Shiley School of Engineering: “This Tuesday, December 4 will mark Brother Godfrey Vassallo’s 125th birthday, and I thought you might be interested to note that Br. Godfrey’s birthday number last year (his 124th birthday), that is his current age, was special too because it matches his birth date, December 4 (12/4). Br. Godfrey served at UP for 45 years and coincidentally, next year, September 14, 2019, will mark the 45th anniversary of his death, since he died on September 14, 1974.”
Thanks Aziz, any way we can keep the memory of “BG” alive is okay with us.
There is a famous story that Bro. Godfrey Vassallo, C.S.C. (“B.G.” to generations of admiring students and colleagues), led Physics Club students in digging out a basement for Engineering (Shiley) Hall on weekends in 1949. On weekdays, he was a physics professor at the front of the classroom. Holy Cross Brothers have long been the center-stage and background backbone for UP as teachers, administrators, farm workers, steam plant operators, book store managers, librarians, and archivists (to name just a few). All have contributed to the University’s mission while living out their religious vows. Under the patronage of St. Joseph, Holy Cross brothers are part of the Holy Cross Family (priest, brothers, sisters) envisioned by their founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., and modeled after the Holy Family. The first floor display case of Buckley Center (across from the studies abroad office) highlights pictures and statistics from the University Museum featuring the Holy Cross Brothers, their UP affiliation, and their years of service. A portion of the display focuses on St. Andre Bessette, C.S.C., the first Holy Cross saint, a Brother of Holy Cross. This display will be in place through the month of February.