Vincent Louis Althaus entered the Christian Brothers Juniorate (high school program) in 1947 and the Novitiate in 1949 in Glencoe, Missouri, where he received the religious name of Brother Horace Louis. He entered the Scholasticate (undergraduate collegiate studies program) at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, in 1950 and completed his BS in Mathematics in 1953. His first teaching assignment was at Christian Brothers High School in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he taught physics, chemistry, and mathematics. He then was assigned to the Juniorate Staff at Glencoe for a year (1956-57) and a year later began graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame (1957 to 1960) where he received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering.
Upon graduation, he was assigned to Christian Brothers College in Memphis where he served as Assistant Professor of Engineering, Dean of Students, and Co-Director of the Computer Center. Brother Louis returned to Notre Dame University in 1964, and in 1967 received his PhD. in Electrical Engineering. He returned to CBC and served as Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department and from 1973 to 1982 and as Vice President of Academic Affairs. He later served as Head of the Electrical Engineering Department from 1984 to 1993, when he was appointed as Assistant Provincial of the Christian Brothers. He returned to CBC in 1995 and was named Special Assistant to the President and continued in that role for nine years. At the same time, he served on the Christian Brothers District Finance Committee and Pension Board for Christian Brothers Services. He continued to teach in the Electrical Engineering Department until his retirement in 2014.
“Brother Louis was a multi-talented and selfless individual devoted to the success of our students, our faculty, and our university,” said President Jack Shannon. “In the roles of faculty member, college administrator, and Christian Brother, he made a positive and lasting impact upon both our CBU and Lasallian communities. While we mourn his passing, we also celebrate the remarkable life he lived.”
Read more about Brother Louis Althaus in the Winter 2015 Issue of the Bell Tower Magazine When he retired, Brother Louis was the longest serving Christian Brother in the history of CBU.He moved to Assisted Living at Ave Maria Home in 2019. During his years in Memphis, he not only taught electrical engineering courses but served in every major administrative position at CBC/CBU, with the exception of president. He died quietly in his sleep at 10:52 pm on September 25, 2021, at age 89.
Please keep Brother Louis, his family and friends, and the entire Christian Brothers community in your thoughts and prayers. He is being remembered here as one who lived well our Lasallian principles of faith, service, and community.
Visitation service will be at Canale Funeral Home (2700 Union Avenue Extended) on Tuesday, October 5 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, October 6 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1695 Central Avenue).
Memorials may be sent to the Christian Brothers of the Midwest, Inc., 7650 S. County Line Road, Burr Ridge, IL 60527 or to the Brother Louis Endowed Scholarship at Christian Brothers University, 650 East Parkway South, Memphis, TN 38104.