Linda Wobbe

When I was first hired as a Librarian at Saint Mary's College in 1984, I was scheduled to work many evenings and weekends. My first memory of Brother Dennis, was that this tall, pale, frail man was on the third floor of the Library, in what was then the combined Town, College, Christian Brothers Winery, and San Francisco District of the Christian Brothers Archives at absolutely every hour of the day. He had one or two other Brothers as assistants who drifted in and out, , but Brother Dennis was always at work, seriously concentrating.

When the De La Salle Institute relocated from a corner of the campus to the Mont La Salle location in the heart of the Napa vineyards, all that had once been one collection was eventually split into very distinctive collections - the Town Archives in a new location in the History Center at the Moraga Public Library, the College Archives on the third floor of the Library, and the District and Winery Archives in Napa. Every one of these collections was initiated through the endless effort of Brother Dennis, who organized thousands of boxes of meeting minutes, budgets, memos, letters, legal documents and pictures. He labeled every item, created every folder. He never shortchanged anyone who asked a query; his thorough research was copied and placed in the folder to guide the next historian.

Every time I answer a question in the College Archives, I see Brother Dennis' writing, I hear Brother Dennis soft but firm voice. His is the research I turn to with respect - If he says the College property is some fraction less than 300 acres, I know he did the research of the legal records and made copies of those records and that he knew precisely what that fraction is. If he calculated the number of students in attendance, I know he left no paper untouched which might have helped him find the exact number. When I see a paper in a file that I initially imagine must be in the wrong place, I know I should ponder a bit to imagine what connection Brother Dennis might have seen that I am missing (or I should turn it over to see if Brother Dennis - always recycling, never wasting - has written a note in his shaky large scrawl that will unearth secrets that only hours of his careful research has unveiled.)

When Brother Dennis relocated to the Retired Brothers Community in Napa, he was sure all his work on the College Archives would be wasted. He had some trepidation, but some hope too I believe, when I was' given responsibility for the College Archives - unfortunately on top of what was already more than a full-time job. Many researchers would still call him in Napa. He would call or write and tell me precisely which folder to look in for the answer. He was always a bit surprised but grateful that I was able to provide the information he sought. Eventually Brother Dennis began to trust me enough that he simply told researchers to call me, that I would be able to help. That was Brother Dennis' greatest compliment.

Brother Dennis, all of us who love history and know the truth lies buried in the documents of the past - not in the assumptions of the present - honor your thoroughness, your integrity, your diligence, your intelligence, and your energy. My job would be impossible without the hours you spent creating the College Archives. Every student, instructor, independent researcher, or Sports Information Director who comes to me seeking answers is guided by you. Thank you, Brother Dennis, we will miss you greatly, but you legacy is alive.

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