| Reverend Thomas R. Smith |
| Founding Pastor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Lorain, Ohio, Age 55 |
| Born: June 10, 1955 Died: July 6, 2010 |
| Reverend Thomas R. Smith, M.Div., founding pastor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in Lorain, Ohio, died Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at his residence. He was born to Ruth Ann Smith (nee Podlas) on June 10, 1955 in Buffalo, New York. The family moved to the Cleveland area in 1960. Father Tom was educated at St. Henry Parochial School, St. Gregory the Great School, and Brush High School, as well as Borromeo and St. Mary Seminaries. On June 13, 1981 he was ordained into the priesthood by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla for the service of the Diocese of Cleveland at ceremonies conducted in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. His first assignment was as a Parochial Vicar at St. Frances de Sales Catholic Church in Akron. On June 27, 1985 he was transferred to St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake where he served as Parochial Vicar until June 18, 1991. He later served in the same capacity at St. Malachi and St. Wenceslas parishes. On October 6, 1994 he was appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Lorain. In addition to his duties as Pastor he was also appointed as the Administrator of SS. Cyril and Methodius Slovenian Parish, in October of 2009 and St. Vitus Croatian Parish in November of 2009. On March 6, 2010 he was named as the founding Pastor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He is survived by his mother Ruth Ann Smith residing in Buffalo, sisters Deborah J. Smith-Jones of Pittsburgh, PA, Linda A. Lempner (Joseph) of Brunswick, OH, Lisa J. Smith of Buffalo, Susan C. Macro of Amherst, NY, Barbara A. Alkire of Mechanicsville, VA, Judith A. Smith of Lockport, NY, and uncles Stephen H. Podlas (Nanci) and Clinton Montague. He is also survived by many cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews and a great niece. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Stephen S. and Ruth (nee Hannon) Podlas and by his aunts Mary Judith Podlas and Barbara (nee Podlas) Montague. |
