Fr. Thomas C. Shepherd OBITUARY
Fr. Thomas C. Shepherd OBITUARY
Fr. Thomas C. Shepherd, age 86, a retired Episcopal priest, passed from this earthly life to the next, on Friday, July 19, 2024. Thomas was born on May 8, 1938 in Toledo, Ohio where he spent his early years, then attending the University of Toledo and graduating in 1960. He received his Master of Divinity degree in 1963 from Bexley Hall seminary and entered the priesthood six months later. He has worked as a parish priest in Ohio, as a chaplain/teacher at Trinity Pawling School (Dutchess County, NY), then at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Rome, Italy. In 1970, he returned stateside to Walden, NY as a parish priest and public school teacher. In 1982, Fr. Tom accepted the call to Christ Church, Harwich Port, MA. There, he was instrumental in forming the “Friends of Prisoners” where over 1000 ex-offenders had passed through the program by his retirement in 2000. He then relocated to Fort Lauderdale and helped form the Episcopal Church’s local chapter program known as “Integrity” to support the gay and lesbian population of this city at All Saints Episcopal Church. He was very active in the Sons of the American Revolution, serving as president at one time. Liturgically, he took on interim priest roles for the Diocese of Southeast Florida at St. Paul’s (Key West), St. Margaret’s (Miami Lakes) and St. Columba’s (Marathon). Fr. Tom was part of a ministry for those in assisted living facilities thru St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where he attended worship services prior to COVID. He has been a priest/pastor to the underserved population of any community where he resided. He was generous of his time and talents to and for others. He was “God’s gift to me,” says a friend from MA. A funeral mass, (it will be live streamed), will take place at All Saints Episcopal Church in early fall. He will be interred at Trinity Cathedral, Miami. Fr. Shepherd is survived by his brother, William, a niece Elizabeth, and a nephew David, all of whom reside in the Columbus, Ohio area.
