Our
brother Matthew Beemster, number 6 of 8 children, was born in Allouez in 1906.
After graduating from
St.
Norbert High, he joined the Order in 1925.
As a frat, he began teaching at the high school and was director of
intramurals until his solemn profession in 1930, when he became the director of
the college bookstore.
“Beemie”
was appointed to the first faculty of Southeast Catholic in 1934, where he was
advisor to the “
Crystal
” yearbook and moderated the swimming team.
In 1941, he was transferred to Central Catholic and moderated the tennis
team.
In
1947, Beemie was appointed manager of WHBY and WTAQ radio stations, and changed
the call letters of the latter to WBAY. In
1952, he became prior of the abbey, and the next year oversaw the opening of
WBAY-TV.
From
1956 until 1959, Beemie functioned as sub-prior of
St.
Michael’s at Premontre, and from 1961 until 1963, as prior at Daylesford
Priory.
From 1963 until 1967, he was pastor of
St. John’s
in
Somonauk
,
Illinois
, and from ’67 until ’71, as pastor in
Chester
,
Montana
.
After
retiring to the abbey in 1982, Matthew died Thursday,
October 4th, 1990 at the
age of 83.
