Submitted by: Dan Rich
Rev. F. Thomas Lallak
July 9, 1938 – June 22, 1993
South Bend Tribune 6/22/1993 (Exerpts)
SOUTH BEND – Rev. F. Thomas Lallak,
who served 29 years in local Catholic churches and 21 years as a
police chaplain, died at 12:34 a.m. today in the rectory of
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Auburn, following an
illness. He was 54. In addition to serving several local
churches, Rev. Lallak was known as a roving photographer on the
sidelines at Notre Dame football games. Wearing his Roman collar
and several cameras, he ran up and down the line with other
photographers. He was born July 9, 1938 if Fort Wayne. He was a
graduate of St. Meinrad College and St. Meinrad School of
Theology. He had a bachelors degree in history. He was ordained
on May 30, 1964 by Bishop Leo A. Pursley.
He spent 24 years as a priest in South Bend
as an assistant at St. Anthony de Pauda Church and St. John the
Baptist, and as a pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. He
was transferred to Immaculate Conception Church in Auburn in
1988. Rev. Lallak became a chaplain for the South Bend Police
Department in 1967 and remained with the department until he left
for Auburn. He received the honorary rank of captain of the
department in 1972. He also served as a chaplain for the South
Bend Fire Department. During his time on the police department ,
Rev. Lallak researched and wrote a book on the history of the
department.
He was born July 9, 1938 in Fort Wayne, and
lived in Auburn for five years, going there from South Bend. He
is survived by his mother, Irene Lallak of Fort Wayne and a
brother, Terrence of Chicago.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Auburn. Burial will be in
Catholic Cemetery, Auburn. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m.
Wednesday in McComb, Dilgard & Cline Funeral Home, Auburn
where a parish rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. and from 2 to 9
p.m. Thursday in the church, where prayer services will be at
7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Father Tom Lallak
Tennis Scholarship or St. Meinrad Seminary.