Remembering Brother Martin Yribarren, FSC
A grand and majestic organ piece opened the March 13 funeral of Brother Martin Yribarren, FSC, a man whose own musical talent was admired by many in the Saint Mary’s College community. The private ceremony in the Saint Mary’s College Chapel was a tribute to Brother Martin, who passed away March 8. He was 75.
Brother, uncle, friend and teacher, Brother Martin never hesitated to share his many gifts, from mentoring musicians to baking flakey-crust fruit pies. In every endeavor, he strived—if not insisted—on perfection.
“He was playful…and stern,” remembered SMC Chaplain Father Tom McElligot, who often spent time in the kitchen with Brother Martin. “I would always say ‘Martin, you don’t have to be so exact’ and he’d say “Yes, I do have to be exact. Do it right!” Brother Martin’s culinary interests also included dishes that celebrated his Basque heritage.
“He was always aware and respectful of peoples’ heritage,” said vocalist Christine Cosbey, ’2010, who sang hymns on the phone for an hour every morning, to Brother Martin, the week before he passed away. They had worked together for over a decade, providing the music for dozens of weddings in the Chapel.
Cosbey considered Brother Martin her mentor, crediting him with her decision to attend Saint Mary’s College as a vocal performance major. She sang Shubert’s Ave Maria from the choir loft at Brother Martin’s funeral—a song they’d performed at almost every wedding—because it was a favorite among brides.
As director of the Sacred Music Choir at Saint Mary’s College, Brother Martin worked weekly with faculty, staff and student members who enjoyed singing for special masses. Sometimes, he would sit at the piano at the front of the Chapel and lead the choir in songs he had arranged himself. For the centennial celebration of the Brother’s District in New Orleans, and the 150th anniversary of the College, he wrote and performed an entire mass with the choir.
One thing people may not know, shared Brother Patrick Moore, is that Brother Martin was on the consulting committee that helped design the organ for the Oakland Cathedral [Cathedral of Christ the Light]. “Because of his expertise, he was able to contribute a great deal to the planning and placement of the organ.”
Brother Patrick, who sang in the Sacred Music Choir, said he’d miss his friend for more than just his musical ability. “I’ll miss our conversations. We would frequently talk about his seminar and what he was reading at the time. He was especially interested in philosophy…and very good on a close reading of the text.”
Brother Martin’s love for the great books fueled his passion for teaching Collegiate Seminar and tutoring in the Integral Program for 26 years until his death. He was also known as more than a casual fan of Gael’s basketball, having himself played basketball for the Gaels as a freshman in 1967.
In his eulogy, Brother Kenneth Cardwell recognized his friend of some 55 years for his many athletic talents. “Once upon a time he was a baseball player (a pitcher), a basketball player (center), a tennis player, an avid backpacker, a high-mileage cyclist and an eager but so-so fly fisherman.”
Brother Kenneth reflected on how hard it must have been for someone with such athletic prowess “to begin, early on, to lose his physical gifts. But he did not say much about the losing...” he added.
“Once upon a time he was a high school geometry teacher, a high school basketball coach, a principal—and then he became a scholar and for a few decades a college instructor, teacher of music, master of many choirs, college organist, the community’s chief liturgist and the men’s basketball coaches’ most discerning critic,” Brother Kenneth continued.
And confirming what so many others had shared, Brother Kenneth said Brother Martin was always coming up with a question. At the end of his eulogy, Brother Kenneth put an exclamation point on this observation with what he imagined was a scene from heaven. “Not Marty seated at this great celestial organ, not Marty on the central court of heaven waiting to suit up against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (when he arrives) but Marty having climbed the last little way to St. Peter’s desk at the Pearly Gates. Before Peter can open his mouth, Martin says—I have a question.”
Brother Martin is buried in the Brothers’ cemetery at Mont La Salle in Napa, CA.