Fr. Joseph Bronder, OSB
St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe
Father Joseph Bronder, OSB, a monk of St. Vincent Archabbey, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. He was a son of the late Edmund and Elizabeth (Schuetz) Bronder, of Pittsburgh. Born March 18, 1942, in Pittsburgh, he is survived by a sister, Ruth Bronder, of Pittsburgh; and a brother, Edmund Bronder and his wife, Ann, of Washington, D.C. He attended St. Joseph Mt. Oliver Grade School in Pittsburgh and was a 1960 graduate of St. Vincent Preparatory School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from St. Vincent College in 1965 and a master of divinity degree from St. Vincent Seminary in 1969. He entered the Benedictine monastic community of St. Vincent Archabbey in 1962. He made simple profession of vows July 2, 1963, and solemn profession of vows July 11, 1966. He was ordained a priest in St. Vincent Archabbey Basilica by the late Bishop William Connare, of Greensburg, May 24, 1969. Father Joseph had a passion for music in all its dimensions. He began music lessons at the age of five. Some years later, in 1972, he was awarded a Master's Degree in piano at Yale University, and continued to study with the best concert pianists while giving at least 80 recitals during his performance years. Perhaps the highlight of his performances was to do Beethoven's C Minor Piano Concerto, with orchestra under the direction of Richard Karp, founder and director of the Pittsburgh Opera. While on the faculty and as chairman of the music department at St. Vincent College, he taught countless young people how to play the piano, and particularly enjoyed their successes when they were able to play in recital every spring in the Science Center Amphitheater. In addition to performance and teaching, Father Joseph enjoyed directing choirs and choruses in the abbey, college and with singers and players from local communities. Father Joseph founded and administered the St. Vincent Concert Series, treating audiences to first-class recitals and concerts at a high professional level. He was chair of the Department of Music, director of the St. Vincent College Concert Series, director of the Department of Music concerts, the St. Vincent Camerata, the St. Vincent College Singers, the St. Vincent College Troubadours and associate professor of piano. He performed more than 80 piano recitals, conducted numerous choral performances, presented more than 350 concerts in the St. Vincent College Concert Series, and presented 40 student piano recitals. Father Joseph served the Archabbey in its educational apostolates since 1972. He was named Acting Chair of the Fine Arts Department from 2001 to 2002. He has also been on the faculties of Seton Hill College, Carnegie Mellon University from 1980 to 1987, and Duquesne University from 1992 to 1996. His previous assignments include chorus director at St. Vincent Preparatory School and St. Xavier Academy from 1968 to 1969, and director of the St. Vincent Camerata from 1972 to 1980 and 1996 to 2004. Father Joseph was a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society, the College Music Society, and the American Music Scholarship Association. He was a past adjudicator for the Carnegie Awards of Carnegie Mellon University from 1983 to 1987. He also served on weekends in the parishes of Immaculate Conception Church, in Irwin, St. Anne's Church, in Wilpen, and Holy Trinity Church, in Ligonier. The body will be received at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Elizabeth Roderick Center, St. Vincent Seminary. Viewing will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Roderick Center. The body will be transferred to the Basilica for the vigil service at 7:15 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at in the Archabbey Basilica. Memorial contributions can be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund, St. Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690.
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