August 7, 2006VOL. 44, NO. 14Oakland, CA

OBITUARIES

Brother Christopher Bassen, FSC
Christian Brother Christopher Bassen, founder of the Lasallian Educational Opportunities (LEO) Center in Oakland and a former principal at Berkeley’s St. Mary’s High School, died July 3 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 63 and had been a Christian Brother for 46 years.

Born William Christopher Bassen in Chicago, he became interested in the life of the Christian Brothers while he attended high school there. When his family moved to the west coast, he entered the community’s junior novitiate in Napa in 1957 and the novitiate in 1960, the same year he received the religious habit. He made his perpetual vows seven years later.

The long-time educator earned a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics at St. Mary’s College in Moraga and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of California in Berkeley. He worked as a teacher and vice principal at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles and served as a principal at St. Mary’s High (1980 – 82) and La Salle High School in Pasadena (1982 – 86).

After a year of investigating the needs of the Oakland community, Brother Chris along with Christian Brothers Larry Haley and Dan Fenton established the LEO Center in an Oakland storefront in 1994. A neighborhood tutoring and learning center, the center provides after-school tutoring and summer educational programs for 60 junior high school students and 60 senior high school students as well as classes and English-language instruction to about 25-30 adults.
In October, the Center moved from Telegraph Avenue to the former parish center at nearby Sacred Heart Church.

Over the years, hundred of students have benefited from the one-on-one academic help given them by the Brothers and a host of volunteers from St. Mary’s College and other institutions.

“I always say that LEO Center is a victim of its own success because as students become confident and successful in their school work they move on and they no longer need us,” said Christian Brother Anthony Lenz, director of the Saint La Salle Community in Oakland. “And then other students, of course, replace them. So our roster is constantly changing throughout the year.”

Brother Chris served as director of the LEO Center for every year of its existence except during the one year when he was on sabbatical. His main concern was “for the kids” said Brother Lenz. “They came first in any decision that we made at the LEO Center – their good and their well-being.”

Survivors include his sister, Ellen, and her husband, Jim Hill, of Harbor City, CA, and his niece Jeanellen, and her husband, Jody Sumruld, and grandniece, Autumn Sumruld.

The funeral Mass was held July 15 at St. Columba Church in Oakland. Burial was at the Brothers’ Cemetery at Mont La Salle in Napa. Memorial contributions may be made to The LEO Center, P.O. Box 3238, Oakland, CA 94609.

Sister Diane Grassilli, RSM
Sister of Mercy Diane Grassilli, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Burlingame California/Arizona Region and a major catalyst in shaping the future of the Sisters of Mercy throughout the West and Midwest, died July 16 of cancer. She was 56.
From 2002 to 2005, Sister Diane chaired the board of directors of Catholic Healthcare West, the eighth largest hospital system in the country, and the largest not-for-profit health care provider in California. She also formerly served as a corporate member of the nationwide Mercy Housing, Inc.

“She was a rare combination of the visionary and the realist,” said Sister Carolyn Krohn, a member of the Burlingame Regional leadership team. “Sister Diane saw clearly how to find common ground to bring people together and what practical steps were necessary to accomplish her goals. Her passion was to bring community and ministry into effective service for those who have little access to our society’s resources,” said Sister Carolyn.

Born in San Francisco to Robert and Marie Grassilli, Diane Grassilli attended Mercy High School and Russell College in Burlingame. After joining the Sisters of Mercy, she returned to her old high school to teach English and religion and to serve as activities director and dean of students. “Students were struck by the beautiful young sister with the brilliant smile. Many said she changed their lives,” said Liz Dossa, director of communications for the Burlingame order.

Sister Diane quickly moved into strategic planning for the community. During the 1980’s, she and Mercy colleague, Sister Amy Bayley, developed a financial plan that helped turn around the high school’s fiscal picture.

In 1986, she began planning for the newly emerging Catholic Healthcare West system. She served as assistant to CHW president Richard Kramer from 1989 to 1997. Current CEO Lloyd Dean called Sister Diane “the glue between governance and management…a moral voice in the system.”

A talented graphic artist, Sister Diane designed the Tree of Life stained glass window in the Marian Care Chapel on the Burlingame campus.

Her funeral took place July 26 at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame. Sister Diane is survived by her mother Marie Grassilli; brother Bob, his partner Gladys Mueller; and the Sisters of Mercy community.

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