Rev. Thomas Zotter

THE REV. THOMAS ZOTTER Father Tom Zotter, 70, passed away peacefully at Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas, Sept. 30, 2018. He was born Feb. 15, 1948 to Mary E. Zotter and Albert R. Zotter in Pittsburgh, Pa.; they predeceased him. He grew up in a loving Irish family with five aunts and uncles, and nine cousins, and a German family with two aunts and an uncle, and five cousins. He pursed his vocation to priesthood by entering St. Fidelis Seminary, Herman, Pa., in tenth grade. He graduated from St. Fidelis High School and College with a B.A. in counseling psychology. He continued his studies at the Washington Theological Coalition in Annapolis, Md. Father Tom was one of eight in his seminary class, along with Monsignor Jerome Mart¡nez and Alire. In 1976 he was ordained by Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe at his parish church of St. Gabriel in Pittsburgh. Father Tom served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for 34 years: assistant pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, Albuquerque; assistant pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Santa Fe; pastor, Immaculate Conception, Cimarron; pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pojoaque; pastor, Queen of Heaven, Albuquerque; pastor, St, Bernadette, Albuquerque. While serving at St. Bernadette, Father Tom took correspondence courses from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, Calif., and earned a doctor of ministry degree. While pastor in Pojoaque, Tom became lifelong friends with Patty and Wilfred Romero. They were with him when he passed away. Father Tom's crowning achievement in the priesthood was the major renovation of St. Bernadette and its subsequent elevation to the Shrine of St. Bernadette. He served as Pastor there from 1992 until 2010, approximately one half of his priesthood. Due to ill health, Father Tom was forced to take early retirement. He moved to Las Vegas, Nev. to buy a home, continuing as a visiting priest under the patronage of Bishop Pepe, hearing confessions, and saying weekend masses. He is survived by his sister, Mary Jo Ferraro (Dan); his brother, Jim Zotter (Susan); five nieces and nephews. Father Tom was buried at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Albuquerque. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Shrine of St. Bernadette Building Fund.