Remembering Fr. Kramer
Remembering Father Kramer
Fr. Kramer received his elementary education at St. Vincent DePaul and St. Rose Schools in Cleveland and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1935. He attended John Carroll University earning a bachelor degree and worked in the printing and magazine business until the outbreak of World War II. Fr. Kramer spent most of the war in the Army Finance Division stationed in New Delhi, India. He left military service in 1945. Upon returning to Cleveland he began working in the sales division of the Houghton elevator Company. Fr. Kramer left Houghton to join Holy Cross in 1957. While at a sales meeting in a hotel he met a few Holy Cross Priests and enjoyed visiting with them. He asked them to send him information about Holy Cross. A few days later some vocation literature arrived at his home. He was quite impressed and at age 40 he entered as a candidate for the priesthood. Fr. Kramer entered Sacred Heart Novitiate, Jordan, MN on August 15, 1957 and made first vows one year and one day later. He returned to Moreau Seminary for further classes at Notre Dame and stayed there for two years. In the summer of 1960, Fr. Kramer moved to Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., for four years of theology. He was ordained to the priesthood May 23, 1964 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Cleveland, OH. His first assignment was to the University of Notre Dame where he spent a year of pastoral apprenticeship followed by a year as assistant at Christ the King Parish. In 1966 he was made director of Maryhill Retreat House in Pinehill, LA. In 1967, he was director of the Holy Cross Associates Program consisting of the parents of students at Holy Cross Minor Seminary. Moving to the University of Portland in 1968, he worked for the Vocation Office and lived on campus. He returned to Cleveland in 1970 and worked at St. Edward High School, Lakewood and Gilmour Academy until 1973. Fr. Kramer began a course of study at Ashland College in Ashland, OH and earned a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Psychology in 1975. He next served as hospital chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, OH before moving to Colorado Springs and St. Francis Hospital where he served as chaplain from 1976 to 1984. In January of 1984 he was appointed Vice President of Development for St. Francis Health Care Systems also in Colorado Springs. He retired from that position a year later and moved to Casa Santa Cruz in Phoenix in 1985. He remained active as a counselor at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale and over 20 years of service to the good people of St. Helen's Parish. In addition to those duties, Fr. Kramer was chaplain to the Notre Dame Club of Phoenix. Father Kramer attended every board meeting while he served as chaplain, participated fully, and kept us informed about the important events at the Casa and back on campus. He served so well as our religious advisor -- his presence seemed always to remind us of our commitment to Mary. Father Kramer is fondly remembered for the many times he celebrated Eucharist with our Phoenix Notre Dame family, both at the Christmas Mass, and at the Send-off each July when we gathered with the families of students heading back to campus and provided our blessings and good wishes. He was honored as the Notre Dame Club of Phoenix Man of the Year in January, 2006. In late fall of 2006 Fr. Kramer moved to Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, In., because of failing health. A Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sacred Heart Basilica, Notre Dame. There was also a Memorial Mass held at St. Helen's Parish in Glendale Arizona where Fr. Kramer helped out for many years. Several members from the Phoenix club were in attendance. Father Kramer touched so many of us, and we are all the better for his having celebrated life with us. |
Rev. Robert L. Kramer, C.S.C. 90, died on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN.