Bro. Donald T. Sukanek

Brother Donald Sukanek, S.C. (Donald Thomas Sukanek) BROTHER DONALD SUKANEK, S.C., 69, a Brother of the Sacred Heart and a resident of Woonsocket, RI since 2018, passed into eternal life early Tuesday morning, November 3, 2020. Brother Donald (Donald Thomas Sukanek) was born on December 5, 1950 in Flushing, NY, to the late Charles Sukanek and the late Ruth Helena Barry, both of Long Island City, NY. He is survived by a sibling, Mr. Peter (Kathleen) Sukanek of Oxford, Mississippi, two nephews, Stephen and Kevin Sukanek, a niece, Jennifer Sukanek, several great nieces and nephews, and many cousins. As a pre-novice, Brother Donald entered the formation program for the Brothers of the Sacred Heart on September 6, 1968 at Msgr. McClancy Memorial H.S. in East Elmhurst, NY. He became a novice on August 14, 1969 at Coindre Hall in Huntington, NY, and he professed his first vows back at Msgr. McClancy H.S. on August 15, 1970. The Brothers’ chapel at McClancy was also the site of his final vows on August 14, 1976, and there was a great celebration in that very place when Brother Donald marked the 50th anniversary of his first profession just a few short weeks ago. During his years in ministry, Brother Donald served as an English and religion teacher, guidance counselor, youth minister, and campus minister in several of the Brothers’ schools. He also served as Director of Postulants, Vocation Director, Master of Novices, local Religious Superior, Provincial Councilor and Provincial in the New York Province and, more recently, as Provincial Councilor in the Province of the United States. The real joy in Brother Donald’s life was working with young people, and he did it with great zeal and much joy in East Elmhurst, NY; Phillipsburg, NJ; Metuchen, NJ; Brooklyn, NY; South Ozone Park, NY; and, since 2018, with young Brothers in formation, in Woonsocket, RI. But even after traveling to several cities and states to evangelize youth, Brother Donald will probably be most fondly remembered for his 34 years of dedicated service to the young men, and more recently, to the co-ed student body of Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School. In the classroom, Donald supported young people with his prayers and his presence to meet every challenge at school and in their lives. As campus minister, he led his young charges to become prayerful and considerate in thought, word and deed. Donald’s warm smile and personal example gave everyone who encountered him just a glimpse of a kind and compassionate man who took the call to live the life of Jesus, meek and humble of heart, to his own heart! He will always be the epitome of what it means to be a Brother of the Sacred Heart for those who were blessed to call him “Brother.” Due to COVID, Brother Donald’s cremated remains will be buried in the Brothers’ cemetery at Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ, during a private, Brothers’-only prayer service in the next few days. A memorial Mass and dinner commemorating Brother Donald’s life will be held at such time that we can properly gather to remember, pray for and celebrate our Brother. Donations can be made in Brother Donald’s honor to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation (4600 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA 70122) or to Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School (71-06 31st Ave., East Elmhurst, NY 11370).

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