This is a listing of notifications the Parramatta Marist Old Boys Union has received of the passing of Old Boys. “Vale” is latin for farewell and “Fortior Ito” means go forward with strength.
Click on the Old Boy’s Name for further details and a brief biography.
If we do not have the date of passing then the last day of the known month or year is used.
Please use the comments section at the bottom of the page or the contact form on this website to provide further details.
You can search surnames alphabetically. Click Clear Search on the right-hand side to return to the complete list
The tables immediately below are sorted by Class Year and Year of Passing respectively.
Sorted by Class Year, latest to earliest
Sorted by year of passing, latest to earliest.
Br Kevin Willits
French Teacher and Captain in the Cadet Corp at Parramatta Marist during the 1970s.
Biographical Info
Rest in Peace Br Kevin. A one time teacher at PMH and member of the Lavalla community until recently. Thank you for your support of Parramatta Marist.
“Kevin Willits’ long life ended this morning. He passed away at Campbelltown very quietly and gently at 7.15am. He was exactly one week away from his 91st birthday, being born May 15, 1925.
Kevin took his First Vows on July 2, 1944 and was in the 73rd year of his religious life.
As you know Kevin’s health had been deteriorating for some years, however it was only in the last fortnight that he had been confined to bed and really not conscious of people and activities around him.
Kevin’s ministry was long and versatile. He was Primary and Secondary teacher in day and boarding schools, Deputy Principal in three schools and Principal at Daceyville and Pagewood. He was Bursar, Assistant Superior, and Superior at Daceyville, Pagewood, Cairns and Winston Hills.
Kevin’s ministry was long and versatile. He was Primary and Secondary teacher in day and boarding schools, Deputy Principal in three schools and Principal at Daceyville and Pagewood. He was Bursar, Assistant Superior, and Superior at Daceyville, Pagewood, Cairns and Winston Hills. Kevin has been lovingly cared for at Molloy House and I offer our gratitude to the nurses, carers, staff and Brothers who have accompanied him there over the last six years.” champagnat.org/irmaos-falecidos/kevin-willits/
Chris was a good friend when I attended parramatta Marist. I used to run into him around the courts, he never seemed to change always a gentleman.
I’ve got Vale John Cassidy’s picture but how do I email it to you ????
Frank O’Sullivan
Vale John Cassidy LC 1962 Died 28th August 2019
John Cassidy and I worked on a religious organisation in our days at Marist Brothers Parramatta. It was to spread the message of Our Lady of Fatima that is, world peace through prayer, the Blue Army. It was a very strange coincidence that it was one of Cardinal Gilroy’s pet projects, but we didn’t know that at the time. The cardinal had set the organisation up in Sydney under Professor F G Coleman Sydney University and Father Cameron head of the Augustinian order in Sydney.
From 1959 – 1962 I did latin classes at St Mary’s Cathedral, late on Friday afternoon in preparation to enter, my studies for the priesthood. I ran into Cardinal Gilroy on many occasions as he did confessions 5pm to 6pm and I trapped him either going/coming in the presbytery grounds. So the long and short of it all is, that I dragged our John C along with me to say Hi and explain the difficulties we were having with Monsignor McGovern in conducting our Blue Army prayer meetings in St Pats at Parramatta. He smiled at us both & said would we from time to time give him a progress report on our work with the Blue Army. John and I had a few brief encounters with the cardinal & strangely we never had any further problems with the cranky old monsignor.
John Cassidy was a very humble man and would never have repeated this story but having been befriended by a cardinal, lived in a village named after the cardinal and being buried from the chapel on Friday 6th September 2019 that bears the cardinal’s name, I felt it appropriate to tell the story.
Frank O’Sullivan