[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO BROTHER GEORGE SYNAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 1999

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to someone I 
have known for over 40 years--a man who has been an inspiration to the 
many people he has taught and nurtured through the years. Brother 
George Synan, who is celebrating his 70th anniversary as a Christian 
Brother, has left an indelible mark on the metropolitan Detroit 
community and, in particular, DeLaSalle Collegiate High School in 
Warren, Michigan, where he has served as a teacher, coach, 
administrator, and mentor. Although Brother George semi-retired in 
1974, he still taught occasionally at DeLaSalle into the early 1990's. 
Today, he resides at the Christian Brothers retirement home in 
Lincroft, New Jersey.
  I first met Brother George when I was eleven years old. I used to 
play basketball at the old DeLaSalle Collegiate which was across the 
street from the Detroit City Airport. A few years later, as a member of 
the Notre Dame High School Basketball Team, I used to visit Brother 
George when my school played DeLaSalle Collegiate. In the last few 
years, I have had the good fortune to see Brother George occasionally 
when he returns to Michigan.
  Born in New York City in 1911 of Irish parents, Brother George, who 
celebrates his 88th birthday on April 5th, took his first vows as a 
religious brother in 1929. A member of the Class of 1932 from the 
Catholic University in Washington, D.C., he was sent to DeLaSalle in 
Detroit in 1936. Immediately, Brother George was an innovator. He 
started an intramural program that involved more than half of the 
student body. Sunday open gym at DeLaSalle attracted so many students 
that commando basketball was invented, something like today's team 
handball, with fifty players on a team. He even began a midget 
basketball program for boys weighing less than 105 pounds. He was 
assistant athletic director and coached baseball, football and 
basketball in his first assignment at DeLaSalle which lasted for eight 
years.
  In 1944, with first hand knowledge of the operations of the Detroit 
Catholic League, Brother George returned to New York City and 
eventually became president of the New York Catholic Schools Athletic 
Association. In time, the New York league began to play its baseball 
playoffs at Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds and also started football 
playoffs. I can't say for sure who started the New York Catholic 
League, but what they are today is because of a Christian Brother from 
Detroit. His nine years in New York were at Bishop Loughlin High School 
where Brother George began a track meet known as the Bishop Loughlin 
Games, which to this day is the largest indoor track meet in the United 
States.
  In 1957, Brother George returned to DeLaSalle Collegiate. He was sub-
director of the DeLaSalle Christian Brother's community, taught five 
classes, was vice principal and athletic director until 1964 and then 
continued to teach full time for the next ten years. He was a member of 
the Catholic League's Executive Board for several terms during the 50's 
and 60's. It was in 1961 that Brother George became moderator of the 
Christian Brother's Auxiliary, a post he held with great pride for over 
thirty years. When St. Joseph High School, the first Christian Brothers 
High School in Detroit, closed its doors in 1964, he became moderator 
of their Alumni Association, a post he continues to hold to this day. 
Later, he also became moderator of the St. Joe's Dad's Club. He firmly 
believes that keeping the memory of St. Joe's alive at DeLaSalle 
Collegiate, the school the St. Joe Alumni founded, is very important.
  It was in the early 1970's when the teacher, coach, and former 
administrator at DeLaSalle saw the football field named after him. 
Throughout the Catholic League, it was known no longer as DeLaSalle 
Field, not even needing a last name, it was simply and quickly accepted 
across the Catholic League as the Brother George Field. He touched more 
lives than just those individuals who came to play or watch a game at 
the field. His interests went way beyond athletics, and it was first 
and foremost young people, both boys and girls, and their futures.
  He is known for a remarkable memory of DeLaSalle and St. Joe Alumni, 
their families and their lives. His rapport with alumni and friends is 
itself legendary in the Christian Brother schools. Countless families 
benefited from regular visits to those in the hospital or in need of 
comfort. Brother George never drove a car and had to rely a great deal 
on public transportation when the weather or distance prohibited 
walking. So regular were his walking rounds throughout the Metropolitan 
Detroit area, that he was constantly picked up by alumni or friends, or 
even strangers who recognized his familiar stature and walk.
  People who work in the field of athletics and education get great 
satisfaction from teaching and coaching young men and women who make 
their mark in society. They get an even greater thrill when a young 
person they taught or coached enters their profession. Brother George 
can be proud to say he taught teachers, coached coaches, and was an 
administrator of many administrators. Brother George has left each of 
them a strong legacy to follow.
  For 70 years, Brother George Synan has touched the lives of thousands 
of our citizens. On behalf of each and every one of them, I rise to 
publicly thank Brother George for living a life of untiring and 
unselfish dedication to the Christian principle of serving others. Well 
done good and faithful servant!

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