Brother Edwin C. Reggio Jr., C.S.C. died April 24 from a brain infection at Dujarie House in South Bend, Ind.

Reggio served as St. Edward’s University’s Events Coordinator from 1991-99. He was also the religious superior of the St. Joseph Hall community of brothers from 1997-03, and served as the Auxiliary Services Coordinator from 1999-13.

His brothers praised his desire to help others and his handiness around campus.

“Brother Edwin was a highly active man, always willing to help anyone with a project, big or small,” Brother Howard Metz, C.S.C. said.

Reggio was known for his logistical abilities, which allowed him to excel in his many campus roles. 

“He was very organized, and if you asked him to do something, he would do it. He would do it well and it would be organized and it would be on time. To him, he wasn’t a backslapper. He was loyal and hardworking and appreciative if you helped him. You always knew that if you gave him a job it would be done well,” Brother Larry Atkinson, assistant director of Campus Ministry, said. 

Reggio joined the brotherhood in 1951. He made his perpetual profession of vows on the University of Notre Dame campus on Aug. 16, 1955.

As a brother, Reggio taught at both the high school and collegiate level, teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas Aquinas School in Brooklyn, N.Y. and St. Edward’s High School in Austin before it closed in 1967. In 1984, he went to New Orleans to become the headmaster for Holy Cross School before returning to Austin in 1991.

Reggio made his mark on campus by helping to instill the Topper card, Atkinson said.

“He was the one that helped organize the new Topper card where we could put money on it. He was the one who really got that started a few years ago,” Atkinson said.

As a teacher, Reggio encouraged his students to perform to the best of their ability, and encouraged them every step of the way.

“He would demand a lot from his students in the sense of teaching or the band, but he was very complimentary … Never critical, never cynical,” Atkinson said. “He would always encourage people to do more.”

In his spare time, Reggio enjoyed hiking and woodworking. Reggio would carve various images, including Christ, saints, and most often cats. He would often give these images away. Many of his works have been displayed in diocesan art shows.

Reggio would often invite friends to share in his activities with him, Atkinson said.

“He would always arrange hiking trips. He knew all of the great hiking and camping areas in Travis County and beyond. We would go to great trails that I never would have found. Atkinson said. “My greatest memory of Edwin was to go hiking with him. He would have a cooler with a cool drink ready to go. He thought of everything. He just liked going out and being on the outside.”

Reggio would often take extra efforts to make these trips as enjoyable as possible for his companions.

“Back in the ‘90s, we used to go hiking … Brother Edwin noticed that I did not have a walking stick.  Within days, a beautiful walking stick appeared at my door,” Metz said.  “Brother Edwin was a man who paid attention to detail.  He had carved the head of a mountain lion into the stick and even put a rubber tip on the stick; it was sanded and varnished.  I still have it today and plan to continue using it.”

Reggio leaves behind an extraordinary life of service and commitment to the Holy Cross and St. Edward’s.

“His very loyal helping hand will be deeply missed by St. Edward’s and his Holy Cross Brothers,” Metz said.

There will be a memorial service on Thursday, May 2 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at St. Edward’s at 7 p.m.