Obituaries

Father Reginald G. Bender, O.S.B.

Father Reginald G. Bender, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died January 8, 2007. He was a son of the late George J. Bender and Barbara (Weimer) Bender.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on April 8, 1932, he is survived by his three siblings, James Bender of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Ronald (Barbara) Doane of Chicago; and Mrs. Mary Lorden of Peru, Illinois.

He attended St. Paul Parochial School, Chicago and was a 1950 graduate of Saint Vincent Preparatory School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Saint Vincent College in 1955, attended Carnegie-Mellon University the summers of 1958 to1960, and earned his S.T.L. from the Catholic University of America in 1967. He received his S.T.D. in 1974 from the Catholic University of America. He also studied at Saint Vincent Seminary from 1955 to 1959, and at Union Theological School, New York in the summer of 1966.

Father Reginald made his simple profession of monastic vows on July 2, 1953, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1956. He was ordained a priest in May of 1959 by the late Bishop Hugh Lamb of Greensburg.

At Saint Vincent he served as socius of novices (1953-1954), a prefect at Saint Vincent Preparatory School (1954-1962), football and basketball coach at Saint Vincent Preparatory School (1954-1962), director of the Archabbey Press (1958-1966), and prefect of the College Scholasticate (1964-1966). He was on the board of directors of Wimmer Corporation (1973-1974), was an assistant professor at Saint Vincent Seminary (1970), and served as prior of the Archabbey (1974-1980). He was named procurator of the Archabbey and treasurer of the College and Seminary in 1980, where he served until his appointment as director of archabbey finances and investments in 2001.

Viewing will be held from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, and from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, January 10 at the Elizabeth J. Roderick Center on the Saint Vincent campus. A vigil service will be held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, January 10 at Saint Vincent Basilica. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 11 at Saint Vincent Basilica, with interment to follow in Saint Vincent Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund at Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650.