Marianist Brother Robert Johns died Dec. 2 in Dayton. He was 84 and had been a Marianist for 66 years.

Brother Robert ministered as a “working brother,” serving in maintenance roles. He spent nearly 20 years with a Cincinnati nonprofit organization, People Working Cooperatively, providing home repair services to low-income residents. A native of Pittsburgh, Brother Robert entered Marianist postulate at Beacon, NY. He professed first vows in 1949 and perpetual vows in 1956. He served at Mount Saint John, the University of Dayton and Chaminade High School (now Chaminade Julienne). In addition, he was a maintenance worker at North Catholic High School (now Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic) in Pittsburgh for 15 years.

In 1980, he began work at a nonprofit organization established by Lay Marianists. The organization, called People Working Cooperatively, provides home repair and maintenance services to low-income elderly and disabled homeowners. Brother Robert remained with the organization through 1998. He then spent time living and serving in Marianist communities in Dayton and in St. Louis.

At the time of his death, Brother Robert was living at Siena Woods, an assisted living and nursing care facility in Dayton.