Br. Bonaventure (Shevenan) Potter of Jesus Crucified was born on October 16, 1925, in Newark, New Jersey to parents Francis and Mary Helen (nee Blank) Potter. While a student at the College of Our Lady, a preparatory college at Holy Hill, Hubertus, Wisconsin; he requested entrance into the Order of the Discalced Carmelite Friars.  An older brother, Fr. Michael M. Potter belonged to the Carmelite Order (O.Carm.).  Brother was accepted and clothed as a Discalced Carmelite on November 23, 1943. He made his simple profession on February 28, 1948 and his solemn profession on February 28, 1951.

During his years of ministry, Br. Bonaventure served as Cook in Brookline, Massachusetts; Peterborough, New Hampshire; and St. Florian in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He performed missionary work in the Philippines and spent time on Mount Carmel, Stella Maris Monastery in Haifa, Israel. His visit to the Holy Land and his studies there “were the light that guided [him] along a beautiful, deep-spiritual walk with Christ,’ (Br. Bonaventure 1996).

 Br. Bonaventure died on June 30, 2019, and is buried at the Carmelite Cemetery in Hubertus, Wisconsin.