Legacy Project
Article by Archivist Br. Lawrence Stewart

April 9th

Brother Hobart (Richard) Pieper, C.S.C.

Hobart was born in Summit, New Jersey and attended elementary and high schools there. He joined Holy Cross at Valatie, New York in 1939. He spent his novitiate year at Rolling Prairie. After profession, except for one year of teaching at Valatie, he spent his entire 48- year career teaching and administering schools in the missions in East Bengal, later known as Bangladesh. He was among the first missionaries to go there in 1946 after World War II. Hobart taught or was the headmaster at schools in Bandura, Nagari, and Dacca. He returned for a year sabbatical on three different occasions and came back permanently to the U.S. in 1994. He was loved by younger children for his generous nature and booming voice. He was keenly sensitive and responsive to the needs of the very poor and highly respected as a teacher of English and social studies. When he returned to the U.S., he first resided at Columba Hall for 4 years before health conditions caused him to take up residence at Schubert Villa and Dujarie House.