Richard James Wreisner, the youngest of three children born to Richard David Wreisner and Winifred Frances Gleason, was born on January 22, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He began his grammar school education at Annunciation School in Minneapolis and completed it in the public schools of Dassel and Deephaven, Minnesota. After graduating from Deephaven High School in 1948, he spent two years at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota.

On August 30, 1950, he entered the Dominican novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory, Winona, Minnesota, and was given the religious name Hugh. It was during this year that he suffered a convulsive attack, but doctors could not definitely determine its cause. Accordingly he was admitted to first profession on September 3, 1951. He was sent immediately to St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois, for philosophical studies and obtained his Ph.B. and Ph.L. degrees at the Pontifical Faculty of Philosophy. The occurrence of a second attack in the summer of 1954 raised the possibility of an impediment to ordination and he accordingly renewed his simple vows. In the fall of 1954 he was transferred to St. Rose of Lima Priory, Dubuque, Iowa, to begin theological studies. As the doctors had every hope that his mild seizures could be controlled by medication, he was admitted to solemn profession on September 3, 1 955. However, since the Sacred Congregation required absolute medical proof of a cure and no doctor was able to provide this, Brother Hugh could not be advanced to ordination. Nevertheless, he completed his theological studies and obtained an M.A. degree in 1958.

From 1958 to 1964 hewasassigned to St. Pius Priory, Chicago, Illinois, and served as provincial secretary, editor of the Provincial Newsletter, and for a time instructor in moral theology and medical ethics at Little Company of Mary School of Nursing. In 1964 he returned to St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois, to serve as Registrar and Secretary to the President of Aquinas Institute, School of Philosophy, positions which he occupied until 1970. He then joined the staff of the Center for Contemporary Celebration, Chicago (1970-7 2) and pursued one of his talents as a piano player. In July 1973 he began anextended leave of absence from the Order. His

inability to carry our priestly ministry because of his epilepsy finally led him to request a dispensation from his solemn vows, a dispensation that was granted in October 1980.For several years he worked as a piano player.

With the publication of the New Code of Canon Law epilepsy was no longer considered an impediment to ordination and Hugo began to think again in terms of priestly ministry; in his heart he had always considered himself under vows. In early 1986 he was re-admitted to the Order and after a year of probation was permitted to make solemn profession. For two years he engaged in theological updating at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri, and finally obtained his goal - ordination to the priesthood on May 14, 1988. His first assignment as a priest was to be chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital and at the Veterans ' Administration Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota (1988-89). He was then assigned to Albuquerque, New Mexico, as an associate pastor at the Aquinas Newman Center (1989-94) and served the community as superior for a term (1991-94). In 1994 he moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he served St. Mary's Hospital as chaplain for four years. Because of increasing health problems he was assign ed to limited service in 1999 and moved to St.Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois where he provided parish supply as he was able.

On the morning of September 8, 2001, he collapsed unexpectedly and was rushed to Oak Park Hospital where artificial life support systems were required to keep his body functioning. As there was no indication of brain activity, the life support systems were removed according to his stated wishes and he died soon thereafter on the evening of September 8th. Hugo will be remembered by his confreres for his Christmas productions which were preaching events that both entertained and instructed as well as for his wonderful sense of humor. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for him on the evening of September 10, 2001 and he was buried the next day in the Dominican Plot at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.