Blessin, Thomas C.

Jesuit Father Thomas C. Blessin died on Oct. 31, 2012, at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y.  Fr. Blessin was born on Sept. 22, 1932, of Albert and Ethel (Moors) Blessin. He entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Aug. 14, 1950. He was 80 years of age, a Jesuit for 62 years, and a priest for 49 years.

After after three years of high school at St. Peter’s High in Staten Island, N.Y., he completed his secondary education at Xavier High School, N.Y. Following secondary school, he entered the Society of Jesus and pronounced his first vows two years later on Aug. 15, 1952. He continued his collegiate studies at St. Andrew’s until 1955 when he transferred to Loyola Seminary in Shrub Oak, N.Y., studying philosophy there until 1958.

From 1958 to 1960 he taught Latin and speech at Fordham Prep, Bronx, N.Y. From 1960 to 1964 he studied theology at Woodstock College, Woodstock, Md., and was ordained to the priesthood at Fordham University Chapel on June 20, 1963, by Bishop Pernicone. From 1964 to 1965 he was a Tertian at Auriesville, N.Y.

As a young priest he taught theology at Loyola School in New York, where he was also the dean of discipline (1965 to 1976). Much of his priestly life was in sharing the spiritual exercises, for example as a chaplain at Mount St. John Convent in Purchase, N.Y., from 1976 to 1978 and in several other places.

From 1981 to 1985 he assisted at parishes on Long Island. Then from 1985 to 2007 he assisted at local parishes while residing at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J. For 25 years he was a chaplain and active member of the New Jersey National Guard.

In 2005 he was awarded the Rev. James F. Fox, S.J. award from the Loyola School at their annual Alumni Dinner for his years of service to that school. In 2007 he was assigned to Murray-Weigel Hall, Bronx, N.Y., until his death in 2012.

He is survived by his sister, Anne Preziosa, of Staten Island, N.Y.