Justin Edward Diny

Male 1912 - 1989  (77 years)


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  • Name Justin Edward Diny 
    Born 17 Jun 1912  Hilbert, Calumet Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Ordained 1937  Priest - Norbertine - O.Praem. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 11 Nov 1989  Chester, Delaware Co, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I140597  Little Chute Genealogy
    Last Modified 23 Dec 2007 

    Father Peter Nicholas Diny,   b. 07 Aug 1885, Greenleaf, Brown Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jan 1944, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years) 
    Mother Anna Miriam Kettenhofen,   b. 30 Sep 1885, Hollandtown, Brown Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Apr 1966, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Married 25 Feb 1908  Greenleaf, Brown Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F49238  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
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  • Notes 
    • Our brother Justin Diny was born in Hilbert, Wisconsin in 1912, was vested in 1929, professed in 1931 and ordained in 1937.

      In the year of his ordination, Justin was transferred to Archmere Academy where he taught chemistry, mathematics and Latin, and was prefect of discipline and athletic director until 1944.

      From 1944 through 1946, he taught the same subjects at Central Catholic.

      “Jed” was appointed headmaster of Archmere in 1944, a position he held until 1983. He spearheaded four major fund drives during his tenure, resulting in Archmere’s growth and expansion. From the single Raskob Patio estate of 1932, he added St. Norbert Hall in 1959, a new field house in 1967, the Justin E. Diny Science Center in 1974, and a performing arts center in 1983.

      During the years 1963 to 1975, Justin was on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Daylesford Abbey, a board member of the Directors of the Delaware Secondary School Athletic Association. He held the position of vice-president of the Delaware Association of Independent Schools from 1971 until 1973, when he was elected president and served until 1975.

      Long-time faculty member and former Norbertine frat, John O’Meara, once admitted that, “Father Diny certainly was not always the easiest man to work for. There were many times we wished Rome had called him to be Pope. That way we would only have had to kiss his ring!”

      Contrary to his own caution: “You can’t burn a candle at both ends and stay stiff in the middle,” Justin guided the Academy through good and bad times, with steadfastness and steadiness, with diligence and duty, with calmness and decorum, and always with ability.

      Becoming Headmaster “Emeritus” in 1983, he took on the job of director of development for the school. In 1984, St. Norbert College awarded him an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, for his service to the Church in education.

      A dedicated man, with few vacillations in his daily life, Justin was a man of convictions from which he was not easily dissuaded.

      After several weeks of illness, “Mr. Archmere,” died Saturday, November 11, 1989 at the age of 77.