Fr. James Schleicher, retired St. Francis de Sales pastor, dies

The Rev. Fr. James R. Schleicher, Pastor Emeritus of St. Francis de Sales Parish, died Tuesday.  Fr. Schleicher, 80, had been pastor of St. Francis for 34 years before his retirement in August, 2008.

Born November 10, 1929, the son of  Viola and William Schleicher, Fr. Schleicher was the middle child.  He had two siblings: an older brother and a younger sister. He was blessed to have his widowed grandmother (Isabelle Dorsey) live with his family. His grandmother attended daily Mass and he went along. Soon he became a server. His faith continued to grow while he attended Christ the King in Chicago where he was nurtured by the Sisters of Mercy. His family moved to Long Island, New York where he entered the high school seminary, Immaculate Conception Preparatory in the Diocese of Brooklyn.  After he completed high school, the family moved to the Cleveland area, but to attend the minor seminary he had to attend Sacred Heart in Detroit. Later he attended St. Mary's Major Seminary in Wickliffe.

Fr. Schleicher  was ordained December 18, 1954 by Archbishop Edward F. Hoban. His first assignment was as an assistant (parochial vicar) at Akron St. Mary where he served from January 7, 1955 to June 21, 1960. He served as assistant at St. Bartholomew in Middleburg Heights from June 21, 1960 to June 10, 1965, at St. Sebastian from June 10, 1965 to June 29, 1971 and was named pastor at St. Francis June 25, 1974.

Fr. Schleiher, who was pastor of St. Francis for more than half of its 60 years, celebrated his retirement Mass on July 27, 2009, but remained at the parish. The Rev. Fr. G. David Bline was appointed as administrator on August 2, 2008 and pastor on November 23, 2009.

On his retirement, Fr. Schelicher said has had probably officiated at 300 or more weddings at the church and possibly 3,000 baptisms since he became pastor in June, 1974

Vigil and Reception will be held at the parish, Sunday February 28, from 2 to 7 p.m. with vespers celebrated at 3 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday March 1, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Parish, 4019 Manchester Rd. Rite of Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery, Cleveland following the Mass.

There will be no school on Monday, March 1, due to Fr. Schleicher's funeral.

[A brief announcement of his death and arrangements was published on page B5, col. 3, in the Akron Beacon Journal on Thursday with the notation: Please view full obituary in Saturday or Sunday's paper or visit www.hummelcares.com]