REMEMBERING BROTHER GERRY
Remembering a faithful servant and friend of God
by Mr. Josh Mitchell
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Hidden from the public eye, Brother Gerald Meegan served the Salesian community from his humble abode in the chapel centering Archbishop Shaw’s campus. Instrumental in forming the spirit of young men throughout his countless years of service, many of Shaw’s students came to know the spirit of Don Bosco in experiences facilitated by Brother Gerry.
I started my journey at Shaw without any defined religion. I wandered my first year following the crowd, trying to find a group or an event to point me in the direction I wanted to go. It was not until the end of my sophomore year, when Brother Gerry invited me to a leadership retreat in New York, that my path began.
What started with this weeklong experience in October of 2016 blossomed into several other defining moments in my four years at Shaw. Within these many experiences, Gospel Roads, March for Life, Shaw retreats, Dead Theologians Society, and many more, I came to know the spirit of Brother Gerry.
He was more than a man giving up his material life to serve God. He exemplified the spirit of Don Bosco in the atmosphere he created for his boys. Always welcoming his students into his office space, he was an open arm for those who needed advice or someone to listen to. He liked to cook, one of his most memorable being chicken parmesan. He never allowed financial difficulties to stop students from participating in religious events and activities. He was not the best driver, although we all got a kick out of his simple mistakes. He made sure to reach out to his boys, who no longer were students, to assure us that we were always in his thoughts and prayers.
How can this be? In the few events that Brother Gerry did coordinate/participate in, he touched the hearts of those around him. His compassion and kind spirit drew students to him. He made sure to understand those around him for the unique spirit God created them as.
While my experiences with Brother Gerry may differ far from other students at Shaw, that same compassion still drew me to him. Brother Gerry can be remembered for countless things throughout his earthly life, but his compassion and care he showed for those around him is an aspect that can be universally cherished.
Thank you, Brother Gerry, for all you have done for the countless individuals and me in your lifetime.
BR. GERALD DOMINIC MEEGAN, SDB
1942-2021
Gerald Meegan, son of John and Catherine Kesar Meegan, was born in Teaneck, N.J., on Jan. 27, 1942. Meegan attended Don Bosco Tech in Paterson, NJ where he discovered a vocation to the religious life. Brother Gerald made his perpetual profession in 1966. He received a B.A in Education from Iona College in 1967 and his M.S. in Education from SUNY New Paltz in 1973.
Brother Gerald helped establish the National Assembly of Religious Brothers in 1973. In addition to his many assignments, Brother Gerald served as the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Archbishop Shaw High School from 2010 to 2020.
Brother Gerald is survived by his sister-in-law Barbara Meegan of Daytona Beach, FL. He was predeceased by his brothers Charles and James.
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