St. John’s celebrates the life and mourns the passing of Brother Augustine Towey, C.M.

St. John’s celebrates the life and mourns the passing of Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., loyal and distinguished alumnus, member of the Vincentian community, and emeritus member of the University’s Board of Trustees. He passed away on Thanksgiving at the age of 75.

Brother Augustine’s long relationship with St. John’s began more than half a century ago when he was a student in St. John’s College. Elected to Skull and Circle, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy in 1958 and remained at the University to pursue a Master of Arts in Dramatic Literature, which he completed in 1960. He subsequently received a Ph.D. in Theatre from New York University.

The theatre was to be his passion for all the years thereafter. After serving as a faculty member at St. John’s and taking vows as a Vincentian brother, Brother Augustine, in 1964, joined the faculty of Niagara University, which, like St. John’s, was founded and is sponsored by the Vincentian community. Here he carved out a lifelong, illustrious career in the drama.  He founded the Theatre program at Niagara and, as noted in a Buffalo News tribute, “built it into one of the most prestigious undergraduate theater programs in the United States.”  He led the program for more than 40 years, until his retirement in 2005. During that time, he directed more than 135 musical and dramatic productions, mentored hundreds of students who went on to successful theatrical careers, and forged professional  collaborations and friendships with numerous luminaries in the theatrical world, most notably John Kander and the late Fred Ebb, the team responsible for famed musicals “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” He was also a prolific writer and authored numerous plays, including one on St. Vincent DePaul, and several volumes of poetry. He was included in International Who’s Who in Poetry, Dictionary of International Biography, andWho’s Who in Entertainment and received numerous awards for his contributions to the arts, particularly in western New York.   
   
Brother Augustine joined the Board of Trustees of St. John’s in 1992 and served for more than a decade. He was Chair of the Personnel Committee and held membership on the Executive, Educational Policy, Educational Quality, and Student Life Committees. His broad based experience as an academician, his embodiment of the University’s Vincentian mission, and his wit and personal warmth made him an effective and respected trustee. When his service ended in 2005, he was named Trustee Emeritus. St. John’s also conferred an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts upon him.

Information on his wake and funeral may be accessed here.