Brother John William McMuldren, C.S.C.

BROTHER JOHN WILLIAM McMULDREN, C.S.C.

August 6, 1942 – February 6, 2026

Notre Dame, IN. Brother John William McMuldren C.S.C., 83, died on February 6, 2026 at Holy Cross Village. His death was unexpected.

Brother John was born in Braddock, PA to John and Catherine (Darby) McMuldren, the youngest of three children. The family moved to Akron, OH in 1945. He attended St. Sebastian Elementary School in Akron and graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron in 1960. After high school, he attended the University of Akron for one year. He then worked as a sales accountant for two years.

Brother John entered the juniorate for the Brothers of Holy Cross in November 1963 and made first vows as a Holy Cross Brother at St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, IN on January 26, 1965. He graduated from St. Edward’s University in 1967 with a BA in English. In 1974, he graduated from DePaul University, Chicago, IL with an MA in guidance. During the summers of 1973-76, he did graduate theology studies at the University of Notre Dame, and in 1977, he spent the summer at St. John’s College, Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He also obtained a C.T.S. in Religious Formation from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, CA in 1978.

From 1967-1970, Brother John was on the faculty at Holy Cross High School, River Grove, IL. He then served at Boysville of Michigan, Clinton, MI as a teacher for one year, 1970-1971. He returned to Holy Cross High School in 1971 and served there until 1977. In 1978, he joined the counseling department at St. Joseph High School, South Bend, IN while also working as the assistant formation director for the brothers’ candidate program.  He then returned to Holy Cross High School for one year as a school counselor. From 1980-1989, he worked for the Archdiocese of Anchorage, AK as director of youth ministry. In 1989, he worked as assistant director of career counseling at the University of Portland, OR, and in 1990 he was appointed the headmaster at Le Mans Academy, Rolling Prairie, IN. He then went on sabbatical and studied for a year at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 1992, he became director of guidance at Bishop Gorman School in Tyler, TX and worked there until 2007. Brother John moved to Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, IN in 2007, where he worked with senior citizens organizing special events like the monthly fine dining outings to local restaurants. He also volunteered to cut hair for men at Our Lady of the Road Mission. As an assistant in the brothers’ development office, he made countless phone calls to thank donors.

Brother John is preceded in death by his parents, and by his sister Dee and her husband Hank Igleheart. He is survived by his sister Trudy and her husband Milo Abercrombie. He is also survived by seven nieces and nephews, and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at St. Joseph Chapel, Holy Cross College from 9:00-10:00 am on the grounds of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame. The Mass of Resurrection will then follow with interment afterward in St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Holy Cross Village. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions in support of the Brothers of Holy Cross can be made to the Midwest Province, P.O. Box 460, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0460. The funeral will be lived streamed at https://bit.ly/3Ox1Daf

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