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- 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 Archmeres 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 OMeara, 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 cant 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.
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