Redemptorist missionary, Rev. Thomas William Lacey, died on February 22, 2015 at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Towson, Maryland comforted by the prayers of his family and confreres. He was a member of the Redemptorist community, The St. John Neumann Residence, which is located at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland. A viewing will be held in the main chapel on the first floor at Stella Maris on Thursday morning, the 26th of February at 10:00 AM followed by a concelebrated Mass at 11:00 AM (Celebrants need to bring an Alb only. Stoles and Chasubles will be provided). Interment will take place at the Redemptorist cemetery in Saratoga Springs, New York where Father will be buried, with full military honors, next to his brother, Rev. James F. Lacey, C.Ss.R. Father Tom Lacey was born in Munhall, Pennsylvania on January 28, 1929. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 19, 1955 at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York and, following a temporary hiatus, professed his first vows as a Redemptorist for the second time on November 24, 1997 at San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch, New Jersey. He died early in the morning on Sunday, February 22, 2015. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Jim, and entered St. Mary's preparatory college at North East, PA. Following his first novitiate year in 1950 in Ilchester, MD he completed his philosophical and theological studies at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, NY where he was ordained. In 1957 he completed his second novitiate in Annapolis, MD. From 1957 until 1964 he worked in Puerto Rico at Caguas, Fajardo, and Guayama, as well as in the Dominican Republic at San Juan de la Maguana. Then he entered the U.S. Armed Forces at Fort Brook in Puerto Rico and served as an Army chaplain for the next 22½ years. His military assignments included Fort Jackson in South Carolina, Fort Clayton in the Panama Canal Zone, Fort McClellan in Alabama, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Pleiku in Vietnam, Fort Knox in Kentucky, an infantry division in Yongsan, Korea, Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, NY and Fort Myer in Virginia. He retired with the rank of Colonel after receiving several decorations and awards which included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters. Father Lacey completed his "third novitiate" at San Alfonso Retreat House in 1997 and returned to active ministry as a Redemptorist for the next three years at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Baltimore, MD. In 1999 he was assigned to St. Gerard Parish in Lima, Ohio where he worked until ill health required a transfer to the St. John Neumann Residence in Timonium in 2010. Father Lacey's confreres agree that he was well-suited for military service because, from his youth, he had always been meticulous when it came to paying attention to details and in being on time for appointments and responsibilities. He continued this virtue of dependability into his senior years, even as his health began to decline. "He was an enormous help to me when it came to taking care of the many community responsibilities needed here at our health care residence," says his last superior, Rev. Gerard Szymkowiak. C.Ss.R. "For example, he was our number one sacristan, both for our own community Eucharist and for visitors as well. He was also a frequent principal celebrant at the liturgical and para-liturgical services which we pray together every day in our chapel." "He was always considered a leader," attests his contemporary, Father Richard Knappik, C.Ss.R. "He was our house capo at North East which was no easy task since there were so many of us." His classmate, Father Gerard Oberle, C.Ss.R. agrees. "We nicknamed him CD which stood for calm down' because this was a phrase he often used when the volume in the study hall was getting too loud. And it worked because we all got quiet pretty quickly." "In temperament, he was a pure choleric," believes his friend, Father John Bauer, C.Ss.R. "He was always exact, so army life suited him well. I think he and Patton were cut from the same cloth. May he rest in peace. He will be missed." Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.