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In Memoriam Michael Edwin Vosburg-Casey
Michael VosburgCasey was born on March 13, 1974, in Palo Alto, California. After graduating from Bellarmine Jesuit High School in San Jose and Colby College, Mike moved to Atlanta where as a Jesuit Volunteer for two years he worked at the Central Presbyterian Outreach Center and the Georgia Justice Project. There he became involved with the Open Door Community and met Amy Vosburg, an FJV who represents Georgia prisoners on death row with the Georgia Appellate Resource Center. They married in 2004.
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education serving many young people who are marginalized in our society. I tell all my students at the beginning of each new course that my goal is to (ruin them for life) and then I explain what that means. JVC is at the heart of who I am and what I do.” Hannah Dwyer (New Orleans 02) writes, “After ten years in the classroom at Saint Bernard Academy, I took on a new role this year as director of student learning. I oversee curriculum development, student placement, analysis of standardized test scores, and faculty professional development. I continue to teach two sections of fourth grade math.” Emilee Flynn (Oakland 08) graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore in May 2013. She is a pediatric resident at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. 20 Jesuit novices from the United States and Canada met for a course in Jesuit history at Regis in Denver last summer. Back Row L to R: Matt Cortese (JVC NW Seattle 09), Marcos Gonzales (Micronesia 06, JVC Staff 08), James Antonio (Nashville 10, JVC NW Portland 11), Matt Wooters (Belize 09), Matt Petrich (Tanzania 01-04, JVC staff 06-07) Front Row L to R: Chris Geraghty (San Antonio 07, Syracuse 08), Lucas Sharma (Washington, D.C. 09), Steve Nicholson (JVC NW Portland 08). 21 Sara Kelley (Mobile 08), Lauren Carpenter (San Antonio 08), and Jen Guterman (JVC NW Billings 02) attended World Youth Day in Rio in July 2013 as part the Equally Blessed organization. 22 Boston FJVs made an Advent pilgrimage to LaSalette in Attleboro, Massachusetts, famed for its Christmas lights and nativity
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scenes. Michael Lavelle (Boston 09, 10), Julianne Tylko (Chicago 10), Mary Tontz (JVC NW) Rachel Snyder (Baltimore 09). Cooper McCullough (Houston 12) and John Rogers (Belize 11) who are both entering Master of Divinity students at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and Union Theological Seminary, have been selected to receive a 2013 Fund for Theological Exploration (FTE) Volunteers Exploring Vocation (VEV) Fellowship. The Fellowships will provide up to $10,000 over three years to help meet expenses and to fund a ministry internship opportunity. FTE awards the Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellowships to participants in the 19 national faith-based volunteer service organizations with whom it partners, are designed to foster leadership and diversity in pastoral ministry. Lori (Ryan) Neale (San Diego 06, Cleveland 07) is working with Jesuits and others to reestablish Jesuit Volunteers Canada this fall. You can visit the website at jesuitvolunteers. ca. Ted Penton, SJ (Raleigh 01) and Yvonne Prowse (Sacramento 04, JVC staff 2004-2009) are assisting with this effort. 23 On June 29, 2013, Bishop Steven A. Miller ordained Dorota Pruski (Milwaukee 06) to the priesthood at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin, where she will be serving as associate rector. Heather (Stout) Svanidze (Baltimore 05) moved to Spokane, Washington, in late 2012. They had their second baby, Claire Eowyn, in January 2013. Heather is blogging about simple living and car-free living with young children at awalkingmama.blogspot.com with header illustration provided by Elizabeth Metz (Washington, D.C. 05). Carol Vecchhio (Troy 79) has a new book, “The Time Between Dreams - How to Navigate Uncertainty in Your Life and Work.” Carol founded CenterPoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal in 1992 in Seattle.
In 2006, after many years of discernment and actions against war and violence, Michael crossed the line at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, during the annual protest. He was sentenced to federal prison for resistance. Over the 100 days of his imprisonment, Mike and Amy maintained their partnership and continued their joint work to bring justice and peace inside the walls of prisons and jails and radiating to the streets of our towns and cities. In June 2010, Elena Lucille Vosburg-Casey was born to Amy and Mike, and Mike became a fulltime father. Along with her daddy, Elena visited the sick, went to soup kitchens, and vigiled for peace every Friday. He taught her to sing at the top of her lungs, tp play the piano in a unique style, to dance in the rain, and to never meet a stranger. He read to her every day and helped her to develop an astounding level of curiosity, concentration, and verbal skills. Mike made a unique contribution in the movement to abolish the death penalty. Every time an execution was scheduled in Georgia, Mike planned a vigil in front of the office of the physician hired by the Department of Corrections to administer the lethal drugs. Michael’s vigil was an important factor in leading the Georgia legislature to pass a secrecy law that classifies the prison personnel who participate in executions and the source of the prison’s lethal drugs as “state secrets.” This law is currently being challenged in the courts. In December 2011, Mike was diagnosed with colon cancer. During treatments he maintained his ongoing work for peace and justice. Toward the very end of his life, Mike insisted on attending the Friday peace vigil in his wheel chair. Mike Vosburg-Casey’s life remains as an inspiration to action for all who love justice, peace, and the radical vision of the Beloved Community. Deo gratias. Written by Murphy Davis in collaboration with Amy Vosburg-Casey (Marshalls 95), Tom and Betty and Dan Casey, Beth and Vince Casey Pereira, Eduard Loring, and Hannah Murphy Buc.