Brother Clarence was born in Honolulu On Oct. 27, 1924, and grew up in Palama, near the Kalihi region of Hawaii. He professed his first vows on Aug. 20. 1944, in Beacon, N.Y. and took his final vows on June 19, 1949 in Honolulu.
Brother Clarence attended St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Class of 1954 and later received his bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton in education. He went on to earn a master’s degree in school administration from the University of San Francisco.
Brother Clarence has had an impressive career as both a teacher and missionary. He spent many years teaching classes in religion, algebra and typing to students at Marianist high schools throughout the United States. In 1964, he was sent to St. Joseph International School in Yokohama, Japan, and began missionary work in Seoul, South Korea, where he suffered a heart attack. Soon he recovered and was back in Hawaii to continue his work in education.
Brother Clarence journeyed to China in 1987 and once was among 60,000 people admitted to the Imperial Palace in Japan to see Emperor Hirohito and the royal family. He also has scaled Mount Fuji. Currently, he works for Saint Louis High School in Honolulu, where he oversees 9,000 alumni. Brother Clarence said; "Since I have taught thousands of Saint Louis students, they always invite me to their class reunions!"
State Healthy Senior Contest - Spring 1996 – Second Place 71+ Division
"No way!" is the often 70+ heard comment from St. Louis students who ask the age of the guy playing basketball in the Crusader gym or punting a football on the athletic field. "Yep, he really is 71 years old." is the correct reply for Clarence Chew, our second place winner in the male 70 and over division.
Like all of our winners, Brother Clarence is a tribute to good health, pursuing an active lifestyle filled with varied interests and goals. To list his weekly routine would fill the rest of this page, but we can say that his weekly activities, in addition to his daily religious exercises, include tennis, swimming, gardening, walking, jogging, hiking, golfing, shooting hoops and drop‑kicking footballs on the practice field.
Clarence lists among his recent achievements as being a Great Aloha Run finisher every year since 1989 and climbing Mount Fuji' in Japan from the 5th station ‑ a feat that took 9 grueling hours in 1987. Much of his advice for good health is designed to nourish the soul. He advises people of all ages to take a real interest in others, to assist others, to learn to laugh at yourself and smile at the foibles of your life, keep your cool in stressful situations, to keep yourself informed and to always do your best and depend on God for the rest of your life.
“Accomplish all you are able today rather than allowing any tasks to pile up for tomorrow.” - Bro. Clarence Chew
Brother Chew assists the St. Louis Alumni Relief & Welfare Committee with updates on deaths of our beloved alumni. “We appreciate his dedication and support” – Bob Takei, Chairman, Relief & Welfare.
|
