Brother Jean Sobert was a Brother Martin mainstay

    Sacred Heart Brother Jean Sobert (Henry J. Sobert), who spent 36 years as a counselor, administrator and alumni director at Brother Martin High School, died Sept. 23 at the age of 75 following a two-year battle with cancer. He had served for 59 years in religious life.
    A native of Labadieville, La., Brother Jean entered the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1953. He started his career in education as a teacher in 1957 at St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, Miss.
    Following a tenure as vocation director from 1960-68, Brother Jean began a 37-year career in New Orleans, one year at St. Aloysius High School and 36 years at Brother Martin. Brother Jean served as guidance counselor, director of student activities, director of admissions and director of development and alumni.
    “Brother Jean had this unique gift of being able to welcome people in a way that they felt very much at home, accepted and important,” said Sacred Heart Brother Ronald Talbot, provincial. “With that, he gained and earned their trust. He was an effective image of the school in terms of promoting its values. People trusted him so much. Even though his role was primarily in the administrative end, he still knew the young people and their parents.”
     Brother Jean was the son of the late Agnes Boudreaux and Henry P. Sobert. He is survived by his sister Jane Sobert Nance and her husband Steve Nance of Centennial, Colo., niece Jennifer Brummel, nephew Eric Nance, and four great-nieces and six great-nephews.
    Brother Jean donated his body to medical science. A memorial service will be held Oct. 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the James Branton Chapel at Brother Martin High School, 4401 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in the Brother Mark Thornton Terrace of the school on Oct. 5 at 10 a.m.
    In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation, 4600 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, La., 70122.