Celebrating the life of Brother Ivo Toneck

Br. Ivo Toneck, OFM
December 5, 1927-February 29, 2020

On Thursday evenings, Ivo and Gerard would join us for Mass and dinner.
About six months ago, Ivo made his usual Thursday arrival in his beat-up pickup truck, would take a seat in our living room and enjoy his beloved Coca Cola while discussing with us the latest events of the week before Mass started. Although Ivo was never into fancy clothes, the T-shirt he wore that day was a particular disaster. Its grey tinge let you know it was really old and it was full of holes. I commented to Ivo that, even though our community was not wealthy, we could afford to buy him some new T shirts. He just smiled and responded, “Don´t worry, Tommy. I have plenty of good shirts. I am wearing this ratty shirt today because I have been begging for the Music Conservatory. You want to look poor when you are talking to benefactors”.

“Don´t worry, Tommy. I have plenty of good shirts. I am wearing this ratty shirt today because I have been begging for the Music Conservatory. You want to look poor when you are talking to benefactors.”

RELATED: Remembering Brother Ivo

I often ask myself, how did this construction worker from Los Angeles have
such a deep impact on so many lives. Jesus said, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). Ivo´s fruit is abundant-Self-Help Housing in Fresno, youth mariachi groups in Guadalupe, Arizona and in Guaymas, renovations of the Civic Auditorium in Guaymas, Guaymas Youth Symphony and the almost completed Guaymas Music Conservatory that will offer university degrees in music. Ivo was a man of action and service. People in Guaymas complain of empty promises from public officials. On the contrary, Ivo always delivered. Sometimes it was beautiful classical music performed by the young people of Guaymas and other times it was a fifty-peso bill he freely gave to someone living on the street. ¡Que viva Fray Ivo!

Tommy King, OFM

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