Brother Warren H. Abel, C.F.X., formerly Brother Melvin, a Xaverian Brother for 63 years, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Xaverian House in Danvers, where he had resided since 2010.
Born in Brooklyn on Oct. 11, 1931, he was the son of the late Henry and Theresa (Schmitt) Abel. He was raised and educated in Brooklyn, and attended Regis High School in Manhattan. After graduation, Brother Warren enter the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier, taking the religious name Melvin. He studied at Catholic University, taking a bachelor’s degree in 1955 and a master’s degree in 1966.
Brother Warren’s first teaching apostolate took him to St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, where he taught from 1955-1959. He then taught at both Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and Xaverian College in Maryland for three years before returning to Brooklyn to teach at Xaverian High School for two years. After a four year assignment at Mt. St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, Brother Warren returned to his beloved Xaverian High School in 1968 as an assistant principal, and then served as principal from 1983-1993. He continued on at Xaverian High School as an attendance clerk until his formal retirement in 2002.
Besides his brothers in religion, Brother Warren is mourned by the Xaverian High School family and his many friends and colleagues and their families.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 at 3PM in the Chapel of St. John’s Preparatory School (Admin. Bldg.), 72 Spring St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Xaverian Brothers Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visitation will be held in the chapel from 2-2:45PM prior to the Funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Xaverian Brothers Retirement Fund, 4409 Frederick Ave.,
Baltimore, MD 21229.