Scheduling Update:

• Memorial Service scheduled for January 21, 2022 will be postponed to an undetermined date for health safety reasons

• Funeral Service scheduled for January 14, 2022 will continue as originally planned

Dear Salesian Family and Friends:

Below is the latest news on Brother John Rasor’s Funeral arrangements. Thank you to Fr. Thien Nguyen, Director of Bosco Tech, who arranged this with the school administration, with Bro. John’s family, and with me.

Friday, January 14 
Location: Don Bosco Technical Institute (gym)
Open to Family and Bosco Tech community, not including students

• Viewing 4:30 PM
• Rosary 5:00 PM
• Funeral 6:15 PM
• Cremation and ashes to Richmond: Tuesday, January 25 at 11:00 AM

Friday, January 21 
Location: Don Bosco Technical Institute (outdoors)
Open to entire Bosco Tech community, including students
Memorial Service: 10:40 AM

God Bless

Fr. Mel Trinidad, SDB
Provincial
Salesians of Don Bosco – USA West
Salesian Society

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December 22, 2021

I write to you with the sad news of the passing of Br. John Rasor after 7pm this evening (Dec. 22).  He died peacefully at home at Don Bosco Technical Institute (Rosemead, California) where he spent so many years of his Salesian life.

He made his first vows in Newton, New Jersey, on August 16, 1963.

Arrangements are pending.

We have loved him in life.
Let us remember him in prayer in his death.

Fraternally,

Fr. Gael E. Sullivan, SDB
Province Secretary

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Bro. John Michael Rasor, SDB
1942-2021

By Fr. Joseph Boenzi, SDB

We received the news that Bro. John Michael Rasor died last night, Wednesday, 22 December 2021.  Born on 7 October 1944, he was known as Mickey by his family. He was among the first students at Don Bosco Technical Institute in South San Gabriel (now Rosemead), and he joined the Salesians after graduation from high school in 1962.

John was a member of the largest novitiate class in the history of Salesian North America – one of 70 novices in 1962-1963. He made his first profession on Don Bosco’s birthday, 16th August 1963, in Newton New Jersey.

Pursuing advanced degrees in Physics, Engineering and Computer Sciences, Bro. John taught for many years at Bosco Tech. After a sabbatical in 1987 at the Institute of Salesian Studies, he was chosen to pursue a doctorate in Theology form the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, which he earned in 1995. Fluent in Italian and Spanish, John represented the province at General Chapter 24. There he surprised the organizers of the General Chapter and the communications team of general headquarters with his ability to get news out from the chapter floor in real time. The communication team had planned on sending out weekly bulletins, but John sent out bulletins daily and often twice a day from his laptop, which he brought into the general assembly and the committee rooms. He was the first to do this. Most chapter delegates did not even know how to use a keyboard at that time.

Among his reflections there are many precious statements. Here is one that speaks volumes:

The love which we show to others (usually called pastoral charity) is a sign of the love which God offers to all people. Even those acts of love which deal with the worldly aspects of human life are taken up as signs of God’s love offered to all.

After his return from GC24, John did important work at Don Bosco Hall Community in Berkeley teaching courses in Salesians Studies, and preparing workshops that he delivered across North and Central America. He seriously promoted vocations, and explained the Brothers’ Vocation in ways to make sense for new generations.

Ever a community builder and earnest and his promoting of young people, Bro. John will be sorely missed.