BROTHER MYRON COLLINS

1931 - 2014

Brother Myron Collins passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at Mont La Salle in Napa, CA. At the time of his death, he was 83 years old, and in his 65 years as a De La Salle Christian Brother. Born in Berkeley, CA, on January 20, 1931, he was christened Patrick John by his parents, Alfred Patrick and Ruth Snyder Collins. He attended St. Augustine's Grammar School in Oakland, CA, before going to Mont La Salle to complete his high school education. At Mont La Salle, he continued to the Novitiate and received the habit on August 14, 1949, taking the religious name Thomas Myron. Brother Myron completed his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, CA and began a 55 year career as a teacher. From 1954 to 1958, he taught at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, but after earning a Master's of Science Degree in chemistry from Fresno State College, he moved to Saint Mary's College in Moraga as an instructor of chemistry. He remained at the college for the majority of his life, with the exception of ten years between 1994 and 2004, when he taught chemistry at Bethlehem University in Palestine. On his return in 2004, he continued as a chemistry tutor at Saint Mary's College before retiring to the Holy Family Community at Mont La Salle in 2011. Brother Myron was well known for his quiet presence, his sense of humor, his love for the outdoors, and his countless hours of service to students as teacher, tutor, and residence hall advisor. Outside of his professional life, Brother Myron was a regular summer staff member at Camp La Salle in Huntington Lake, pursued a lifelong interest in the Eastern Rite, singing in the choir and being an active member of Our Lady of Fatima Byzantine Catholic Church in San Francisco, CA, and developed a keen appreciation for everything from card playing, to wines and wine tasting, gladly sharing all that he learned, loved, and knew with Brothers, friends, and others. A Funeral Mass will be held at Mont La Salle Chapel on Friday, December 13, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Memories and notes of sympathy may be left at claffeyand rota.com.