"He had a great sense of ... warmth and caring, that came across more than anything else. People responded to that. He genuinely loved people."

Brother Jean Sobert, S.C., a Brother of the Sacred Heart, died Sept. 23 at age 75. Brother Jean was a force in Catholic higher education in New Orleans for almost 40 years.

Brother Jean was born Henry J. Sobert, in Labadieville. He entered the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1953. He started his career in education as a teacher at the Brothers' school St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, Miss., in 1957. He served as vocation director for the New Orleans Province from 1960-1968.

His 37-year career in New Orleans started with one year at St. Aloysius High School, and 36 years at Brother Martin High School on Elysian Fields Avenue in Gentilly, a school formed by the 1969 merger of two Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools, St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu High School. Brother Jean served as guidance counselor, director of student activities, director of admissions and director of development and alumni.

Brother Jean "had a deep sense of the importance of Catholic education in the lives of young people," said Brother Ronald Talbot, S.C., provincial of the Brothers' New Orleans Province. "He had a unique ability to convey to them a sense of caring and concern that made the role of Catholic education real in their lives.

"People trusted him," Brother Ronald said. "People valued his advice. He had a keen sense of understanding what people were thinking and the real issues they were dealing with."

Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C., a longtime friend and colleague, said Brother Jean "made every person he came in contact with feel that they were unique and totally important in that moment. He put people at ease. He had a great sense of welcoming and hospitality, a sense of warmth and caring, that came across more than anything else. People responded to that. He genuinely loved people."

Brother Jean also "had a tremendous memory for names," Brother Ivy said. "He could meet you once and remember you forever.

"If you're a 13-year-old kid new in a big school, to have this great big guy with a big toothy grin come up to you and know you and know your name -- that can make a real difference in a kid's life," Brother Ivy said. "And he did it over and over again. And those kids grew into adults, and they never forgot his kindness."

Brother Jean is survived by a sister, Jane Sobert Nance, and her husband Steve Nance of Centennial, Colo.; a niece, Jennifer Brummell; a nephew, Eric Nance; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

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Brother Jean Sobert, a fixture at Brother Martin High School for 36 years, dies at age 75