Brother Richard Columban Derby, FSC, a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, District of San Francisco, since 1932, has died. Brother Columban, aged 93, died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital on the evening of January 6, 2008.

Brother Columban has been described as “a deeply spiritual man,” “influential in the formation of many young Brothers,” and “a powerful but humble model of the Christian Brother’s life,” and “truly a giant.” He was a teacher and administrator, a director of Brothers’ communities, and a skilled organist. One former colleague offered this reflection: “What drew students to him? They recognized his great love for each of them. Students can’t be fooled. His life was a love affair with God and his students and confreres.”

Funeral Services will begin at Mont La Salle, Napa, California, on Saturday, January 12, in the Mont La Salle Chapel, with viewing at nine o’clock in the morning followed by the Funeral Liturgy at ten o’clock. Interment will be in the Brothers’ cemetery on the site.

Graduating from Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco in 1932, young Alfred Robert Derby entered the Brothers’ novitiate that July, received the habit of the Brothers in August, and took his first vows in 1933. Brother received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Saint Mary's College of California, and did graduate studies in psychology at the Dominican House of Studies in Illinois and La Salle University in Philadelphia.

Among the schools at which he was teacher or administrator were Sacred Heart High School (now Sacred Heart-Cathedral Preparatory) in San Francisco, St. Peter's High School in San Francisco, Garces Memorial High School in Bakersfield, and San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lasallian Education Fund, De La Salle Institute, 4401 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558.

For complete information and fuller appreciations of Brother Columban’s life and vocation, click here for the obituary notice in the San Francisco Chronicle, and click here for the Press Room of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory.