History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 231

In 1955 Bossart became chief engineer of the Atlas project and in 1957 he was
promoted to Technical Director of Aeronautics at General Dynamics. On December
17, 1957, eleven years of Bossart's work was climaxed by the successful first flight of
the Atlas. In 1958 he received the Air Force's Exceptional Civilian Award for his work
in developing America's first ICBM.
His co-workers called Bossart one of the finest technical men in the country. They
credit him with having spearheaded a major phase in the art of rocketry. Karel Jan
Bossart died in San Diego, CA, on August 3, 1975.
REFERENCES:
Winkler Prins Encyclopedie van Vlaanderen Vol I, p. 230, 429. Memo from Belgium,
Special Number 1976, Belgians in the US published 1976 by Minister of Foreign
Affairs, External Trade and Cooperation in Development, Brussels.
Recommended further reading: Atlas, the Story of a Missile, by John L. Chapman

Henri Vermandere, born in Kortrijk, West Flanders, May 17, 1904, came with his
parents to New York in 1907, and from there to Montreal, Canada in 1908. Following
the example of his brother Joseph (Br. Placide), he entered the Congregation of Holy
Cross at Ste-Genevieve, Quebec in 1919. As Brother Severin he made his first
profession in 1921, his perpetual in 1925. His studies included French, English, music
and Natural Sciences; his diplomas: Academic Diploma of Pedagogy (Central
Bureau, 1922) Modern Education and Pedagogy (U. of Montreal, 1924) and Licentiate
in Music (U. of Montreal, 1935).
During 47 years Bro. Severing was professor of chant and choirmaster at various
educational institutes in the Montreal area: Ecole Adelard-Langevin (1924-26, 193343), Juvenat St-Joseph (1926-30), College Notre-Dame (1930-33) Oratoire St-Joseph
(1943), Ecole Beaudet (1943-56), College St-Andre de St-Cesaire (1956-71). After
celebrating his golden jubilee of profession in 1971, he retired at the Maison StJoseph and the provincial house, putting his musical talents at the service of the
Oratoire. He died March 2, 1982 at the Grand-St-Joseph, Chomedey, Laval (Montreal
suburb).
Bro. Severing's achievements as founder-director of choral groups, were outstanding:
"Les Petits Chanteurs a la Croix de Bois de Montreal" (Little Singers with the Wood
Cross), 1933, the first Canadian choral group affiliated with the famous Paris group;
revived at the Ecole Beaudet, 1951; a choral group at St-Cesaire, 1956. His singers
performed with great success at several outstanding concerts in Montreal, Quebec,
Nicolet, etc. Twice, in 1947 and 1957, he directed a mighty chorus of combined
groups for the performance of the "Te Deum of Victory, a work his brother composed
at the end of WW II.
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