Br. James Luke

John James Aloysius Hurley began life on December 19, 1909, the son of John Roche and Joanna O'Sullivan Hurley, in Chicago, Illinois. Although he had been offered a scholarship to another high school, John chose to attend St. Patrick's Academy which was conducted by the Christian Brothers. In February of 1931 he entered the Novitiate at La Salle Institute and on April 21, 1931, he received the habit and religious name of Brother James Luke. Upon completion of his Novitiate year, he took his first year of Scholasticate training at Glencoe and then completed his work at DePaul in Chicago and St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota, in 1935 with his B.A. degree, cum laude. His first teaching assignment took him to St. Mel's High School in Chicago in 1935, the same year the school became a military school. Over the next seven years he was to become teacher, Director, library assistant, drama director and moderator of the National Honor Society. He also earned his M.A. Degree from DePaul (1939) and another M.A. from Loyola (1942), as well as taking time to attend the Columbia College of Dramatics. In 1942 he was named Principal of St. Mel's but in 1947 illness forced a change. Brother James Luke was assigned to St. Mary's College in Winona where he immediately pursued his love of drama. During the next five years he was Director of Dramatics, Chairman of the Department of Humanities, attended Fordham University, St. Louis University and Catholic University. In 1955 he was assigned to De La Salle in Chicago, where he eventually became Principal. In his retirement years he helped organize and operate a Development Office for the Chicago District in Chicago's Loop. Before catching his bus in front of Lewis University to go to work on December 31st he was hit by a truck on the Highway in front of Lewis and died from the injuries he received. He died at age seventy-three, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for fifty-one years.
Honor a Brothers’ Legacy and support the Lasallian Mission today
Remember the Brothers who dedicated their lives to serving in our schools, educating the youth, and stewarding the Lasallian Mission for over 300 years. A gift in remembrance honors their vocation and gives the ultimate gift to today’s students.
