YOU WENT SO QUICKLY!
I was awakened this morning to hear that my good friend and classmate, Father Tony Olges, had died from his lung cancer.
I just saw him Tuesday at his home. I had scheduled a lunch at my house for him, myself and two other classmates - Tony Taschetta of Joliet and Gary Marvin from here in Louisville. Tony had to cancel our lunch appointment to go to a chemo treatment early that afternoon and was not able to attend. After saying "goodbye" on his porch, we planned to get together for another lunch "when he got to feeling better." We knew that day that it was very serious, but I don't think any of us had any idea last Tuesday that it would be over so quickly. We thought he might have several months at least.
It was not to be.
Tony and I went to four years of high school, four years of college and four years of theology together and have served as priests in the Archdiocese of Louisville for forty-six years.
Tony was, academically, a very high achiever. He was very well read. He had a "wicked" sense of humor. He willing took on demanding pastoral assignments. He gave concise, insightful and well-prepared homilies.
One of my favorite memories of him was from college seminary. After sleeping in on the weekend, we would wake him up around 10:00 am. He would rub his eyes and ask, "Has the sun broke yet?"
Rest in peace, brother, we are going to miss you but we are happy to know that you will not be suffering anymore!
From our group graduation picture from St. Thomas Seminary in 1966.
From our group picture in front of Abbey Church the fall we entered Saint Meinrad Seminary
in 1966. Yes, seminarians were wearing cassocks that year.
Ron, Thanks for your beautiful reminisces of Tony. I agree wholehearted with you. I remember him as a very humble man which was one of the many reasons I admired him.
ReplyDeleteJohn Helm