Rev. Msgr. Lawrence C. Fye, Akron native, dies

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown for Rev. Monsignor Lawrence C. Fye, 76, the Rector Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. Columba, who entered into eternal life Saturday morning at Humility House.

Monsignor Fye was born August 5, 1932 in Akron, the son of Willis C. and Pauline Clouser Fye. He began his education at Clinton Elementary School and Sts. Phillip and James School in Canal Fulton. He later graduated from Brunnerdale Seminary in Canton in 1950. He began his college education at St. Joseph College in Indiana until entering St. Gregory Seminary in 1952, and later St. Mary¹s Seminary in Norwood in 1953. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree from the Athenaeum of Ohio in 1955. He later received a Masters in Education from Xavier University in 1959. Monsignor Fye was ordained May 30, 1959 at St. Columba Cathedral by Bishop Emmit M. Walsh. His fifty years of ministry began at St. Joan of Arc, where he served as associate Pastor from 1959 to 1961. He later was named the Pastor of St. Louis Church in Louisville in 1974, serving until 1985 when he was named the Rector/Pastor of St. Columba Cathedral, where he served for over twenty years. He was named Prelate of Honor in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. In addition to serving as Rector of St. Columba, in 2003 he was named Administrator of St. Casimir in Youngstown. Monsignor Fye retired as Administrator of St. Casimir and Rector of St. Columba in 2006.

In addition to his ministerial service, Monsignor Fye also served the community as a member, board member and executive board member of numerous foundations and organizations.

Monsignor Fye is survived by two sisters, Kathleen Hagarman and Margaret Mokris and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents; he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty J. Fye and Sister Charles Fye, C.S.A.; and two brothers, Richard E. Fye and Thomas W. Fye.

The family has asked at Monsignor¹s request that material tributes take the form of donations to the St. Columba Endowment for the maintenance and restoration of St. Columba Cathedral. A service of committal followed by burial will take place Wednesday at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.

Friends may call from 2 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. Professional arrangements are by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, 330-533-5541.
[Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Monday, July 27, 2009, page B4 col. 6 ]