Brother John Olsen (Thaddeus), C.F.X., the first principal of Nazareth R.H.S., East Flatbush, died Oct. 8 at Nazareth Home.
He entered the Xaverian Brothers from Resurrection parish, Gerrirtsen Beach, in 1947.
Earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., he taught for six years at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., and in 1958 he was made assistant principal at Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, where he served until 1962.
He earned his master’s degree in education at St. John’s University where he would also earn his doctorate in 1971. He served as the first superintendent at Nazareth from 1962 to 1965.
An innovator, instinctively interested in technology, Brother John helped the grade schools in Brooklyn integrate the use of technology in their instruction. He also served the Congregation in various leadership roles: superior and president of Xaverian College, provincial counselor and Director of X.B.S.S.
He also served as executive director of National Catholic Education Association for Secondary Schools from 1974 to 1980.
He served as director of research for the Southeast Ministry Resource Center where he helped religious move into ministries serving the poorest of the poor.
He ministered at Assisi Bridge House in Houma, La., and later volunteered to serve in Kenya where he spent 10 years on the formation team and the director of projects at St. Joseph the Worker parish, Kangemi, Kenya.
I first met Brother Thaddeus as a Xaverian High School student. After high school I became a Xaverian Brother and he was our superior at Xaverian College. Through the years I had the opportunity to meet him at various Brothers functions and monitored his inspirational life as a Brother. God bless Brother John Olsen/Thaddeus – a good and faithful servant!