Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Fr. Blaszczyk remembered as great friend, priest, athelete
Fr. Blaszczyk remembered as great friend, priest, athelete
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published February 29, 2008
Detroit — Those who knew Fr. Thaddeus Blaszczyk say they knew an approachable priest, a superb athlete and a dependable, good-natured friend.
"Fr. Ted was a truly genuine person," said his friend and classmate Fr. John Blaska. "He was a warm-hearted priest who had a common touch. He loved and was loyal to his Church, to his family, to his parishioners, and to all of us."
Fr. Blaszczyk died Feb. 21 in Tamarac, Fla. He was 80, and had served in the priesthood for 54 years.
Fr. Blaszczyk was born in Hamtramck on March 25, 1927, one of five children of Stanley and Sophie Blaszczyk. He attended St. Florian School in Hamtramck, served as an altar boy, and sang in the parish choir. He entered Sacred Heart Seminary in 1941 to finish high school and later earn a bachelor's degree.
As a young man, Fr. Blaszczyk had the opportunity to pursue a career in sports. While at Sacred Heart Seminary, he was approached by professional baseball scouts after he hit a homerun into the upper deck at Tiger Stadium during an organized baseball game.
"I can still picture this famous home run he hit in Tiger stadium," said Fr. Blaszczyk's classmate, Fr. Valentine Gattari, who was also impressed by his friend's ability to play tennis, softball and "any sport but hockey."
Still, the priesthood was always Fr. Blaszczyk's passion.
"That was his highest desire," Fr. Gattari said.
Fr. Blaszczyk received a Master of Divinity degree from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake in 1953. He was then ordained along with 15 classmates on June 6, 1953, by Cardinal Edward Mooney at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.
Fr. Blaszczyk served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wyandotte from 1953 to 1958, SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Detroit from 1958 to 1963, St. Stanislaus Parish in Detroit from 1963 to 1966, and Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn from 1965 to 1968. He was chaplain at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, he was made pastor of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish in Hamtramck, where he served until 1993. He was then appointed pastor of St. Alan Parish in Troy, where he served until attaining senior priest status in 1998.
During his assignments, Fr. Blaszczyk also served on the Priest's Senate and the assignment board, as chairman for the presbyteral council, president of the Polish Priests Conference and on the board of trustees at SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary.
He was vicar of the former North Central Vicariate from 1975 to 1980. In 1987, he helped coordinate Pope John Paul II's visit to Hamtramck.
Friends describe Fr. Blaszczyk as a faithful priest who loved his parishioners. "He loved the priesthood and he loved people," said classmate Fr. Donald Dacey. "He was a good guy to be around, he was always up and upbeat."
As a friend, Fr. Dacey added, Fr. Blaszczyk "could be counted on for any help you needed, at any time."
Fr. Blaska, who spent a lot of time with Fr. Blaszczyk throughout their priestly ministries, recalled how his friend would make time for parishioners who wanted to talk with him after Mass.
"He was always available," Fr. Blaska said. "When people wanted to talk with him, he would do it. It wasn't like he was hard to reach."
He recalled, too, how Fr. Blaszczyk would greet people by calling them "friend."
Fr. Blaszczyk always retained a love of sports, and enjoyed watching ballgames and playing golf. In 1973, he even helped found the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, which is in Hamtramck.
Fr. Blaska said he was always modest about his athletic prowess — and was a great guy to watch a baseball game with.
Fr. Blaszczyk also enjoyed playing cards, going to the theatre and traveling. He had visited national parks throughout the United States, and Poland. But he always put his ministry first, his friends say — even assisting at a parish in Florida as a senior priest.
Fr. Blaska said Fr. Blaszczyk's life resembled a message from St. Paul to the Corinthians: "While all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win. Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable (1 Corinthians 9, 24-25)."
Fr. Blaszczyk is survived by his sister, Lillian Stuart; sister-in-law, Mary; nieces and nephews; and grandnieces and grandnephews.
His funeral Mass was to have been Feb. 27 at Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Hamtramck. Burial was to have been at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.
Memorials may be sent to SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, 3535 Indian Trail, Orchard Lake 48324.
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