The Rt. Rev. Blaise Fuez, 86, retired abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank in Sparta, Wisconsin and the former economist of the Cistercian Order, died November 16 in Sparta after a brief illness. 

Dom Blaise was born Janosch Fuz in Székesfehérvár, Hungary to the late Janos and Ilona Süle Fuz.  His father was an officer in the Hungarian Army.  After attending the local Cistercian School for 8 years, he entered the Abbey of Zirc in 1940 as a novice and was solemnly professed as a choir monk of the abbey two years later, and ordained to the priesthood in 1945.

After studying theology for a year at the Dominican House of Studies in Budapest, Dom Blaise spent two years studying philosophy at the University of Budapest as well as at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received a licentiate in canon law. For the next 25 years, he resided in Rome and served as secretary to the Abbot General of the Cistercian Order and later economist of the order, managing its financial affairs.  During this period he was instrumental in helping Hungarian religious emigrate to the West and kept channels of communication open between Rome and Hungary's monasteries.  For his work with the church in the Soviet Bloc, he was made a chaplain of the Order of Malta.  In 1973 he came to the Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where he was named prior, a post he held for 26 years during which he oversaw the community's move to its present location on a 550 acre tract of land in Sparta.  In 1989, he was elected the third abbot of Spring Bank and served until his resignation at the canonically-required age of 75 in 1997.

Dom Blaise was an avid photographer and his numerous albums documenting his travel on behalf of the Cistercian Order and on vacation provide an important glimpse into post war ecclesiastical life in Europe.  He spoke seven languages and was very fond of translating idioms and folk expressions from one language to another.  In his later years, the internet allowed him to maintain a wide correspondence and to continue to participate in discussions of canon law and Latin.

In addition to his parents, Dom Blaise was preceded in death by his sister Helen Süle. He is survived by a nephew, Balas Süle, a grandnephew, Balas Süle, and two great-grandnieces, as well as by his monastic brethren at the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank.

The body will lie in state from 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 18 in the oratory of the Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank in Sparta with Vespers of the Dead at 6:00 p.m.  A Solemn Mass of Requiem will be said at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 19 in the Abbey oratory with the Rt. Rev. Kassian Lauterer, Abbot of Mehrerau and President of the Cistercian Congregation of Wettingen-Mehrerau, presiding.  Interment will follow at the Abbey cemetery.  A public reception will follow in the Abbey.  Memorial gifts may be made to the Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank, 17304 Havenwood Road, Sparta, Wisconsin.

The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com