1929 – 2004

WOONSOCKET, R.I. – Brother John Louis Collignon, S.C., 75, of the Brothers of Sacred Heart Residence, Precious Blood Parish, died Thursday, Feb. 19, at Landmark Medical Center after a lengthy illness.

Born Feb. 14, 1929, in Central Falls, R.I., he was the son of the late Gaston Collignon and Rosa (Casse) Collignon. He graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Central Falls, R.I., in 1949. He entered the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at Harrisville, R.I., in Sept. 1949.

He pronounced his first vows at Mt. Saint Charles. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spring Hill College, Mobile, Ala., a Master of Arts in teaching from St. Michael’s College, Colchester, Vt., and a Master of Education from Rivier College, Nashua, N.H.

He began his educational career at St. Dominic High School in Lewiston, followed by assignments as a teacher at Sacred Heart Juniorate, Harrisville, R.I., and Notre Dame High School, Fitchburg, Mass. In 1967, he was named principal of Bishop Guertin High School, Nashua.

After serving 11 years as principal, he became Vocation Director. In 1979 he was elected Provincial Superior of the New England Province of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, serving in that capacity until 1985. He then became Principal of Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington, Vt., until 1992. From 1992 until 1998, he served as Guidance Counselor at Mt. Saint Charles Academy. He also served as local Director of St. John Residence, Woonsocker, R.I., from 1995-1998. In 1998, he was named Development Director of the New England Province, serving in that capacity until his death.

He completed the Religious Life Program at St. Anicet, Canada in 1958, the Spiritual Renewal Session in Rome in 1966 to 1967, the Renewal Program at the Sangre de Cristo Renewal Center, Santa Fe, NM, in 1975, and the Summer Renewal Program in Rome Italy in July 1992.

He also served as Provincial Councillor from 1970 to 1979 and from 1992 to 1995. He was also active in national programs, serving on the National Advisory Council to the United States Bishops from 1984 to 1988, and on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Religious Brothers.

He is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Rhea Levesque of Central Falls, R.I., Mrs. Jeanne Petit of Lincoln, R.I., Sister Anne Collignon, SSA of Nashua, N.H., and Sister Juliette Collignon, SSA of Marlboro, Mass., both are Sisters of St. Anne.