Submitted by: Dan Rich

Brother Edgar Plas CSC

Feb. 18, 1916 - Sept. 4, 2004

South Bend Tribune 9/7/2004

Brother Edgar (Raymond) Plas CSC, 88, died on Saturday, Sept. 4, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, Ind. Br. Edgar was born on Feb. 18, 1916, in Sheffield, Ohio, the son of Herman and Mary Plas. He attended St. Mary's Elementary School in Avon, Ohio, and Sacred Heart College, Watertown, Wis., where he completed his secondary education. He received the habit of the Brothers of Holy Cross on July 4, 1933, and a year later he made his first profession of vows. He made his perpetual profession of vows on Aug. 16, 1938. Br. Edgar studied at the University of Notre Dame where he graduated with honors, and later at Fordham University. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies he began a long and fruitful career as a teacher in schools administered by the brothers. From 1938 to 1966 he taught in Fort Wayne, Ind., South Bend, Ind., Biloxi, Miss., West Haven, Conn., Indianapolis, Ind., and Lakewood, Ohio. He was treasurer at Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, Ohio, when in 1966 he came to the newly built Holy Cross Brothers' Center, now Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, to help in a dozen ways as a staff member. He assisted with the office duties of the Association of St. Joseph on behalf of the brothers and fulfilled other staff assignments at the center until 1998 when he retired to the Helen D. Schubert Villa at Holy Cross Village. Br. Edgar spent 70 years as a religious in service to his community, and in the process he became an exceptionally savvy judge of bargains and ways to economize. His shrewd handling of business matters enabled more than one of the brothers' schools to maintain itself on a solid financial basis. In addition, his knack for befriending people, former students or practically strangers, was a living reminder of the values of a Holy Cross education. Generous with his time and talents, Br. Edgar was constantly busy, always to the advantage of the local community where he lived.

Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, in the St. Joseph Chapel, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, 54515 State Road 933. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m., with interment immediately afterward at St. Joseph's Cemetery on the village grounds.