Our
brother Guy Guyon was born in Menominee, Michigan
in 1909.
After
his freshman year at the college, he joined the Order in 1935 and was solemnly
professed in 1940.
Having
been appointed to Southeast Catholic in 1938, he began taking courses in drama
at
Catholic
University
during the summers. He was
appointed to the first faculty of Central Catholic in 1941, where he taught
ancient history, religion, and was moderator of the dramatics club.
In 1949, he earned an M.F.A. in speech and dramatics from Catholic
University, where he had studied under famed playwright and New York Times drama critic, Walter Kerr.
From
1941 on, Guy produced seventy-one theatrical productions and twenty-nine musicals. In his day, he set the standard for
Green Bay
high school musicals. In his
honor, the auditorium, which he had designed at Premontre, (now Notre Dame de la
Baie Academy), was designated as The Guy
E. Guyon Auditorium. As a
playwright, Guy had numerous published plays on the amateur market, which were
performed by schools and amateur theatre groups in the
U.S.
and Canada.
Guy
also held the position of house superior at St. Michael Priory from 1969 to
1973. In addition, during the ‘60’s, he was vocation coordinator for the
abbey.
In
1977, he received the
Fort
Howard
Foundation Award for his contribution to the fine arts, in 1981, the S.M.
Killeen Award from Premontre
High School, and in 1984, the National Catholic Education Association Secondary Department
Award.
Guy
was not only a superb director and producer but also an excellent toastmaster
and storyteller. He had a quick wit that he maintained to the end. In his
declining years, when he would slowly shuffle by people as he walked, he would
say, "I hope I don't muss your hair as I dash by!"
Guy
prayed daily for “safe travel.” When someone asked him why he did this, he
said that it seemed to him that at any given time someone in the Order was
traveling and was in need of prayer.
While he lay dying, some of the confreres
gathered in his room to chant office for him. One of them prayed for his “safe travel.” He looked up at the confrere with a beatific
smile!
Guy died
on
Thursday, December 4th, 2003 at the age of 94.
