Rev. Monsignor Fye

YOUNGSTOWN - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown for Rev. Monsignor Lawrence C. Fye, 76, the Rector Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. Columba, who entered into eternal life Saturday morning at Humility House.

Monsignor Fye was born Aug. 5, 1932 in Akron, the son of Willis C. and Pauline Clouser Fye.

He began his education at Clinton Elementary School and Sts. Phillip and James School in Canal Fulton. He later graduated from Brunnerdale Seminary in Canton in 1950. He began his college education at St. Joseph College in Indiana until entering St. Gregory Seminary in 1952, and later St. Mary's Seminary in Norwood in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Athenaeum of Ohio in 1955. He later received a Masters in Education from Xavier University in 1959.

He also completed post graduate studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., St. John's College in Minnesota and Youngstown State University, where he was awarded the Peg Hendricks Family Life Scholarship.

Monsignor Fye was ordained May 30, 1959 at St. Columba Cathedral by Bishop Emmit M. Walsh. His fifty years of ministry began at St. Joan of Arc, where he served as associate Pastor from 1959 to 1961. He then served as a teacher and associate Principal at Youngstown Ursuline High School from 1961 to 1967. In 1967, he served as an administrator at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, during this time he also was a faculty member of the Theology Department of Walsh College in Canton and served as the Newman Chaplain at the Stark County Branch of Kent State University.

In 1970, Fr. Fye was named Family Life Director for the Youngstown Diocese a position he held until 1974, once again he expanded his ministry, serving as the Chaplain at St. Mary's Home for the aged and Assumption Nursing Home during this time. He then was named the Pastor of St. Louis Church in Louisville in 1974, serving until 1985 when he was named the Rector/Pastor of St. Columba Cathedral, where he served for over twenty years. He was named Prelate of Honor in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. In addition to serving as Rector of St. Columba, in 2003 he was named Administrator of St. Casimir in Youngstown. Monsignor Fye retired as Administrator of St. Casimir and Rector of St. Columba in 2006.

In addition to his ministerial service, Monsignor Fye also served the community on the executive board, board member or member of the United Cerebral Palsy Committee and Association of Youngstown and Canton, the Canton Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, and the Ecumenical Association, Ohio Right to Life, Louisville Ministerial Association, Louisville Rotary, the Youngstown Downtown Ministerial Association and the board of directors of the Neil Kennedy Alcoholic Clinic.

Monsignor Fye also was a member of the Msgr. John W. Klute General Assembly, and a Fourth Degree member of Faithful Friar Assembly of the Knights of Columbus.

Monsignor Fye is survived by two sisters, Kathleen Hagarman and Margaret Mokris and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty J. Fye and Sister Charles Fye, C.S.A.; and two brothers, Richard E. Fye and Thomas W. Fye.

The family has asked at Monsignor's request that material tributes take the form of donations to the St. Columba Endowment for the maintenance and restoration of St. Columba Cathedral.

A service of committal followed by burial will take place Wednesday at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.

Friends may call from 2 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown.

Professional arrangements are by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes.