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Bro.Victor was born on December 30, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois, to Ernest and Gertrude (Koschnitzkey) Naegele. He attended St. Clement and St. Mathias grade schools in Chicago and was taught by Franciscan sisters. Bro. Victor was introduced to the Society of Mary while attending high school at St. Michael’s in Chicago. Influenced by his Marianist teachers, he entered the postulate at Maryhurst in Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1933. He professed first vows there in 1936 and final vows in1943 at Marynook in Galesville, Wisconsin. In his letter for perpetual profession he stated, “The best method of serving God is by honoring His Blessed Mother, and this can best be accomplished in the Society of Mary.” In 1939, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton, Bro. Victor began his teaching career at McBride High School in St. Louis. He taught high school religion, English, history, social studies, business and German for almost 25 years. In addition to McBride, he taught at Central Catholic in San Antonio, Texas, Cathedral High in Belleville, Illinois, St. Michael’s in Chicago, Don Bosco in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. John Vianney in St. Louis. During these years, Bro. Victor received a master’s degree in education from Saint Louis University in 1951. His extracurricular activities included directing debate teams, the school newspaper, yearbook and photography staffs, camera club, cheerleading, ski club and freshman basketball. Bro. Victor was known for his photography skills. His work in school photography resulted in first place awards in the state of Texas in 1949, 1952 and 1953 for the Central Catholic High School year book. He also was a pioneer of the immersion trip experience at Central Catholic. In 1952, he organized a student trip to Mexico to explore faith and culture. “Bro Vic was a professional in the best sense of the word,” said friend Fr. Jerry Pleva. “He made a big impact on the lives of many students, and they kept in contact with him throughout his life.” From 1962 to 1963, Bro.Victor changed ministries briefly to serve as manager of Maryhurst Press, a Marianist-operated print shop on the grounds of Maryhurst. He then taught high school for another year at Central Catholic before joining the Sociology Department of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 1964. He was appointed chairman of the department in 1967. Bro. Victor was active as a lecturer, committee member and consultant for migrant issues. In 1968, he was appointed coordinator of the Bi-Lingual Institute and director of the Office of Mexican-American Studies at St. Mary’s University. Other organizations and committees Bro. Victor was involved in included the American Catholic Sociology Society, Catholic Interracial Council of Milwaukee, and the Priorities and Planning Committee of the San Antonio Economic Opportunity Committee. In addition, the Texas Education Agency appointed him a member of the Consulting Committee for the Confluence of Texas Cultures, and in October 1967 he was named a participant of President Johnson's Cabinet Committee Hearing on Mexican-American Affairs in El Paso. He also served on the board of directors of Today's Catholic newspaper in San Antonio. Bro. Victor traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad, often serving as a guide for others. In the summer of 1972, he performed archaeological studies in Israel, Greece, Mexico and the Gulf Coast. During other trips, he photographed all of the major archaeological sites of Guatemala, Belize and Honduras, as well as several sites of the Anasazi Indians in Utah and Colorado. Bro Victor maintained meticulous travel logs including detailed itineraries, lists of currency exchanges, comments on cultures, places to eat, clothing to wear, sites to see and medical precautions. His photographs were often used as teaching aides in his classroom. In 1977, Bro. Victor began a career in development. He served at Marynook for a year and then moved to Central Catholic High School for five years. In 1983, he earned a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University and became director of the Family Life Center of Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1989, Bro. Victor retired from Thomas More High School and moved to the Marianist Residence in San Antonio. In 1990, he participated in an Elderhostel program in Colorado to study Anasazi Indian life. From 1993 to 1994, at age 75, Bro. Victor accepted a teaching assignment at a seminary in Blaj, Romania. He returned to Romania again in 1997. His friend, Bro. Jerry Bommer said, “The Church in Eastern Europe had been decimated during decades of Communist control, and Bro. Vic assisted in its restoration by working in parishes, primarily creating religious education programs. I admired his willingness to take on a new challenge at his age.” According to Fr. Pleva, Bro. Victor’s two great loves were the cities of Milwaukee and San Antonio. He loved the people and the weather in Milwaukee, and in San Antonio, St. Mary’s University and Central Catholic High School held a special place in his heart. In his last years, Bro. Victor suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and he died from complications of the disease. May he rest in peace.
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