Bro. Robert “Bob” Carnaghi, FSC, president emeritus of De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 2 at De La Salle Hall in Lincroft, N.J. 

On March 3, Bro. Ken Kalinowski, FSC, principal at De La Salle, who heads the Brothers’ community of the school, informed the school community of Bro. Carnaghi’s passing. 

“Brother Bob was a true Brother, doing whatever was asked, serving where he was needed, and always with a generous smile,” Bro. Kalinowski said. “If someone truly wanted to learn how to be a Brother, they simply would have just followed his model of service, kindness, and patience. He will truly be missed not only by his Brothers but by his huge extended family.”

Born to George and Josephine (nee Cieslinski), Bro. Carnaghi is survived by his brother Gerald (Patricia) of Phoenix, Arizona, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister Georgene and his brother George (St. Joe's ‘47). 

Bro. Carnaghi attended St. Elizabeth’s Grade School and St. Joseph’s High School (’48). As a high school student, Bro. Carnaghi represented St. Joe’s in the first-ever basketball “city championship” played in 1947 at the old Olympia Stadium against Detroit’s Miller High School. The game attracted more than 16,000 fans, and more than 1,500 were turned away. Bro. Carnaghi earned All-City basketball honors for his outstanding play.

After graduation, he entered the Christian Brothers’ Novitiate, in Barrytown, N.Y. He received his religious habit on Sept. 7, 1948, pronounced his first vows in September 1949, and made his final vows in 1955.

His college education began at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he received a B.A. in English in 1953. He later earned an M.A. in English from Manhattan College, N.Y., and a B.S. in biology from Wisconsin University.

Bro. Carnaghi’s first teaching assignment was in 1953 at Good Shepherd Grammar School in New York City. In 1956, he was assigned to La Salle School in Albany, N.Y., and served as a prefect for the orphans. From 1958 to 1960, he was at the Kamwenja Teacher Training School in Kenya, Africa.

Bro. Carnaghi returned to the United States in 1960, to the Christian Brothers’ Academy in Lincroft, N.J., as a teacher and athletic director. He then spent a semester at Saint Joseph’s, in West New York, N.J., before making a renewal program in New Mexico. His ministry from 1969 to 1978 included the role of associate principal, and then principal, at St. Peters High School on Staten Island, N.Y. From 1978 to 1987, he was assigned to Christian Brothers’ Academy, in Syracuse, N.Y. He served in a variety of roles, including teacher, principal, president and director of the community. He spent the first part of 1987 studying in Rome.

In 1987, Bro. Carnaghi began his first assignment at De La Salle Collegiate, as a teacher and guidance counselor. He left in 1988, and taught at the Alpha Boys School in Kingston, Jamaica, for a year. Bro. Carnaghi spent the 1989-90 school year at La Salle School in New  York City as vice principal and community director.

Bro. Carnaghi returned to De La Salle in 1990, as vice principal and community director for two years. He took on vocation director duties for the then-New York District (now part of the District of Eastern North America). He was named provincial for the formation of Brothers in the New York District from 1996 through 2002.

In 2002, Bro. Carnaghi began his third assignment at De La Salle, as president and community director. Under Bro. Carnaghi’s leadership, the school embarked on a major capital campaign and school renovation and expansion, which included an additional classroom wing, additional science and computer labs, and a new chapel. The school acquired the vacant Warren YMCA which was dedicated as the Brother Robert Activity Center (BRAC) in 2010. 

Upon his retirement in 2011, Bro. Carnaghi was named president emeritus, and served in the academic support program. Bro. Carnaghi was a fixture at the school and at all the extracurricular activities. 

Visitation will take place Friday, March 12, from 4-8 p.m. at De La Salle Collegiate, 14600 Common Road, Warren, MI 48088. A funeral service will take place Saturday, March 13, at 10 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 22412 Overlake St., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080. The Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.sjascs.org/.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Brother Robert Carnaghi Scholarship Fund.