Don Briel, founder and longtime director of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, was diagnosed in mid-January with two forms of acute leukemia. He was told the cancers were untreatable and he had a month to live. Briel said he welcomed the news: That a month was not too short, but not too long to know that oneself is dying. He died Feb. 15 at his home surrounded by his five children and friends.