Deacon Brian E. Mather
Retired New Providence educator, counselor and advisor, active in his church, world traveler who visited 'over 50 countries'
Deacon Brian E. Mather of Plainfield, N.J., died Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at RWJUH in New Brunswick, N.J., after a long illness. He was 74.
Brian was born in Patterson, N.J., a son to the late Ernest and Evelyn Mather and had lived in Plainfield.
He was a graduate from Montclair State University in 1966 with a degree in history, Spanish and anthropology.
He earned his masters in history, counseling psychology, and educational supervision and administration.
In 2007, he completed a five-year theological formation program in preparation for ordination to the Diaconate.
Brian was employed by the New Providence Board of Education from 1966 until his retirement in 2002.
During those years, he was a history teacher and guidance counselor at New Providence High School.
In later years, he served as the district head of staff development, department head of special education and as director of guidance and testing.
He was a longtime advisor of the school's National Honor Society Chapter, Model United Nations Program and New Jersey Youth and Government.
During his years at NPHS, Mr. Mather organized numerous student trips to the British Iles, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux and the Soviet Union. Brian was a world traveler in his own right, visiting over 50 countries.
On May 5, 2007, Rev. Mather was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon by the Most Rev. Arthur Serratelli, Bishop of Patterson, and assigned to the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Stirling, N.J., where he was director of the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults Program (RCIA), a member of the Liturgy Committee, and taught a weekly scripture course.
He represented St. Vincent's on the Watchung Area Interfaith Clergy Council, retired from active ministry in 2013 due to his health, and joined St. Joseph parish nearest his home.
Since 2015, Brian had volunteered as an ESL teacher at the Plainfield Public Library, where he also worked with people preparing to take the U.S. Citizenship Test.
He was a member of the Plainfield Public Library's Literacy Service Advisor Council.
Visitation will be Friday, July 12, from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Parish, 41 Manning Ave., North Plainfield, N.J. Entombment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
For information and online condolences visit www.valleymemorialfuneralhome.net.