BROTHER JAMES LACASSE

Brother James Lacasse

Marcel Lacasse (in religion, Brother James,) 91, died Monday, April 16, 2018 at Maine Medical Hospital in Portland. He was one of ten children born of Lucien and Desneiges (Nadeau) Lacasse in Waterville, ME on Dec. 17, 1926. His formation as a Brother of Christian Instruction (FIC) began in Alfred, ME in 1939. He entered the novitiate 70 years ago in 1942. He was a 1952 graduate of LaMennais College (Alfred, ME). He earned graduate degrees in education (Boston College, 1958) and Mathematics (Univ. of Detroit, 1963). He started his teaching career as an elementary school teacher in Plattsburgh, NY and Sanford, ME. As a very popular high school teacher he was assigned to Mt. Assumption H.S. in Plattsburgh, NY, Msgr. Prevost H.S. in Fall River, MA and Cathedral H.S. in Detroit, MI.

In 1964 he contracted to be the Dean of Students at Walsh College (now University) in Canton, Ohio and eventually served as Registrar. At Walsh he enjoyed an enviable record as golf coach earning Coach of the Year in his conference 11 times and national titles 5 times. For decades he held administrative positions internal to his congregation of the Brothers of Christian Instruction (province bursar) and beloved local religious superior. In 1995 the kind, gentle and helpful religious retired to the Brothers' retirement center on the Notre Dame campus to serve as its superior until health issues compelled him to yield most of his responsibilities. He remained a faithful, prayerful and dedicated religious throughout his final years marked with the trials of physical challenges.

He was predeacesed by his parents, three sisters Rollande Therrien, Sr. Jacqueline Lacasse, OSU and Doris Dumais as well as by twin brothers Henri Louis and Henri Paul Lacasse and Jacques Lacasse. He is survived by a sister Geraldine Lacasse of Rochester, NH and Bertrand Lacasse of CA. He enjoyed great relations with many nieces and nephews and their children. Besides his family members, he will be greatly missed by his confreres among the Brothers, all of whom benefitted by his services, companionship and prayers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 21 at 10:30 AM at the Notre Dame Chapel in Alfred where visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will follow in the Brothers Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Brothers' Retirement Fund can be made in his memory (c/o Br. Daniel Caron, PO Box 159, Alfred, ME 04002.) Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.

Black Funeral Home

207-324-3090