Br. MatzA funeral Mass for Brother Jerome Matz, SM, was celebrated July 22 at Assumption Chapel at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Brother Matz died July 12 at the age of 81. He was a vowed member of the Society of Mary (Marianists) for 62 years.
He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. on Aug. 7, 1940, the son of Alphonse Valentine Matz and Marion Margaret Blanz. He entered the Marianist novitiate at Galesville, Wisconsin, and professed first vows on Sept. 5, 1959. Four years later, on Aug. 18, 1963, he made his perpetual profession. As a Marianist, he began his scholasticate studies, first at Maryhurst in Kirkwood, and later at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1962. He then began his teaching career at Marianist high schools in St. Louis (St. Mary’s High School and Chaminade College Preparatory School) and Victoria, Texas (St. Joseph’s High School).
Brother Matz also pursued graduate studies at Saint Louis University, earning a doctorate in sociology in 1968. For three years in the late 1970s, he also served as assistant principal at St. Mary’s High School in St. Louis while completing additional graduate studies.
For most of the next 36 years, Brother Matz served on the faculty and in leadership positions at St. Mary’s University. His tenure there included extensive experience teaching courses in sociology, along with several different terms as chair of the Sociology Department. In addition, he served as dean of the School of Arts & Sciences from 1981-83. After retiring from the faculty at St. Mary’s University in 2005, he continued living in San Antonio, until moving to the Marianist Residence Community in 2009, where he served for many years as guest master of the Marianist Guest House.
Burial was in the Marianist Cemetery in San Antonio.