Date of death: 12/28/2017
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1975
FATHER THOMAS LOMBARDI, 68, a retired priest of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 after a two-month battle with cancer. Born in Fort Wayne, he was the son of the late Anthony and Dorothy (nee Cambray) Lombardi. His father immigrated from Apricena, Italy in 1920 and worked as a tailor. Fr. Thom received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Meinrad College in 1971. In 1974 he received his Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology from the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. Ordained in 1975, Fr. Thom served at Saint Mary, Huntington, while also assigned as Assistant Diocesan Director of Religious Education and chaplain/faculty of Huntington Catholic High School. Later he was appointed principal of Huntington Catholic High School. After a year at Saint Joseph Parish, Mishawaka and a time of study in Europe, he was appointed pastor of Saint Louis Besancon in 1986. He also served as pastor of Saint Joseph Church, Garrett, and Saint Joseph Church, Hessen Cassel. He was a past chaplain of the Fort Wayne Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. During his tenure at St. Joseph in Garrett, he oversaw the renovation of the church building and helped to establish the Saint Martin’s Health Clinic and Saint Martin’s Soup Kitchen in Garrett. Fr. Thom was noted for his sense of humor, exquisite cooking and hospitality. He also enjoyed raising, breeding and rescuing cocker spaniels.