Brother Michael George Stonebraker

. Brother Michael George Stonebraker, OHC, 78, of Ferncliffe Nursing Home, Rhinebeck, NY, died Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at Benedictine Hospital, Kingston, NY. He was born December 16, 1929 in Washington, DC to the late George and Lillian (Price) Stonebraker.

Brother Michael entered the Novitiate of the Order of the Hoy Cross in 1949. While under annual Vow he was stationed at St. Andrew's School, Sewanee, TN where he taught geography, general science, Old and New Testament, and Form V course in geopolitics.

He made his Life Profession on May 3, 1956. Brother Micheal had lived in the Orders houses in West Park, New York, Santa Barbara, CA, NYC and Toronto, Canada. He conducted teaching missions throughout the USA, Virgin Islands, Caribbean and the Eastern Provinces of Canada. His work with children and youth was particularly noteworthy. He worked at St. Stephens Church, Grand Island, Nebraska as Sunday School Superintendent, was leader at the Valley Forge Summer Conferences and Summer Youth Camp sponsored by the Diocese of New York at Bard College.

For 10 years he served as director of religious education at St. James Cathedral, Toronto. He developed a church school curriculum and youth program which was used as a model for other congregations.
He was one of the founders of the summer youth camp at Hicks Lake in Lacey Washington, which was named Camp Michael in his honor. He was honored for his many years of service to the St. James School, Hagerstown, MD by having his portrait hung in the school chapel.

For 25 years he was the editor of the Order's magazine Holy Cross and was also responsible for the Order's various forms of publicity. He was an accomplished photographer. During the building of the new monastery and refectory he was the Order's liaison with the architectural firm of Hirsch and Casseti.

He had been the organist at the Holy Cross Monastery for many years and was responsible for securing the Moeller Pipe Organ for the Monastery Chapel in West Park. He worked as a consultant with the Berkshire Organ Company in the restoration of the organ and the additions made to the instrument.

Before returning to the Hudson Valley in October of 2006, he was an assistant to the rector at Christ Church in Seattle, Washington. He was a delegate to the diocesan convention, member of various diocesan committees, and a volunteer at Hamilton House at the University Senior Citizens Activity Center.

He is survived by his sister, Jean Harris of Brunswick, GA, and two nieces

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Holy Cross Monastery, West Park on Thursday at 12 noon.

Arrangements by Keyser Funeral Service, Inc., 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY 12466(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered after this line)