Brother Eric Beardsley, O.SS.T. died on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at Relais Bonne Eau Hospice Home in Edwardsville, Illinois after a brief struggle with Myeloma. Frank Grenville Beardsley was born on September 26, 1932 in East St. Louis, Illinois to the late Theodore S. and Margaret A. (née Kienzle) Beardsley. After graduating from Haversford High School in Havertown, Pennsylvania, he served as a corporal in the United States Army.
He entered the Novitiate of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (the Trinitarians) on December 22, 1957 at Sacred Heart Monastery in Pikesville, Maryland. He was given the name Brother Eric of the Transfiguration. On January 4, 1959 he professed temporary vows as a religious brother. He made Solemn Vows on July 1, 1962. At the time of his death, Bro. Eric was four days from celebrating 50 years as a Solemn Professed Trinitarian.
Bro. Eric studied at Temple University, the University of South Dakota, and the Catholic University of America. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Library Science from Southern Illinois University.
During his religious life, Bro. Eric served the Church in various capacities including
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teaching and working as librarian at DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville, Maryland, teaching at St. Paul’s School in Johnston City, Illinois, and serving as a librarian at the Trinitarian Generalate in Rome, Italy; Trinitarian College in Pikesville, Maryland; and in
Trenton, New Jersey and Memphis, Tennessee.
Since 2008, he has been a resident of The Apartment Community of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. Bro. Eric was known for his deep faith, great devotion to prayer, and love of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He had a great appreciation for opera, musical theater, and classical literature. Bro. Eric will long be remembered for his sharp wit and ability to recall obscure quotes related to a variety of subjects. He was multilingual and an accomplished writer, using his talents to pen a history of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and to assist in the ongoing translation work of the Trinitarians. His magnum opus, Between the Fire and the Light, a compilation and translation of the life and writings of St. Michael of the Saints, was in final editing at the time of his death and will be published posthumously.
Bro. Eric is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Ted and Jane Beardsley of Charlotte Harbor, Florida, nephews Theodore S. (Angela) Beardsley
Decease of
Bro. Eric Beardsley,
USA Province
III of Bakersfield, California, and Mark A. (Kathleen) Beardsley of Allen, Texas, niece Mary Elizabeth (Christopher) Beardsley-Land of Abbeyville, South Carolina, special cousins Helen Clark of Belleville, Illinois, Jeanne Kaltenbronn of Hecker, Illinois, Louis (Kathy) Delatine of
Millstadt, Illinois and Jane (Roy) Reeb of New Baden, Illinois along with many beloved cousins and the priests and brothers of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity.