Alumni
Brother Kenneth Robert, FMS

About Br. Kenneth Robert, FMS

Br. Kenneth was the architect of the Gaels powerhouse dating back to the 1960’s.


Brother Kenneth Robert, FMS, born Harold Ouellette on April 16, 1933 in Fort Kent, Maine exemplified what it meant to be a member of the order of Fratres Maristae a Scholis (FMS) or Marist Brothers of the Schools. Marist Brothers are a “Catholic congregation whose mission is making Jesus known and loved through the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected. Marist Brothers are educators, mentors and friends. They come together to live simple lives in communities that serve others. They are real people, with real stories, who make a real difference.”

Brother Kenneth was real people – kind, encouraging, and lived a life of humility and grace. He entered the Juniorate at age 14, the Novitiate at age 18, and was a teacher, coach, and mentor at St. Mary’s High School since 1958. In 2005, Brother Kenneth was inducted into the St. Mary’s High School Hall of Fame. He initially declined the nomination because he felt that other religious teachers, both Marist Brothers and Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who came before did not receive recognition for their work. He accepted only to dedicate his award to his fellow religious.  

As a young boy, Br. Kenneth, attended class in a tiny school house with a total of 30 students. Summers and winters were spent outdoors – swimming or skating on the nearby lake. When he first arrived at St. Mary’s he taught French and history, moderated basketball and baseball, and, over his 30 years as Athletic Director, he introduced the hockey program as well as lacrosse and soccer. Under his leadership, numerous athletic teams were established and many championships were won – including several New York State titles.

As time went on, he took a step back to serve as the Assistant Athletic Director and continued to spend summers at Camp Marist on Ossipee Lake, in Effingham, New Hampshire. His presence at Camp Marist began in 1963 and concluded in 2018. When asked if the School could name a scholarship after him, Br. Kenneth was reluctant to receive the attention but accepted saying that, “the recognition of this award should be a tribute to all religious men and women, Brothers and Sisters, who have taught at St. Mary’s High School over its sixty-year history.”

Brother Kenneth’s response was and remains exemplary of the Marist spirituality which embodies prayer, humility and simplicity.

In 2018, Br. Kenneth retired to the Marist Brothers' community at Champagnat Hall in the Bronx, New York. He remained there until shortly before his death at Calvary Hospital on September 10, 2022.

He is survived by his sister, Maureen, his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, as well as his fellow Marist Brothers and many dear friends including those he cherished from St. Mary's.
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