October 17, 2018

UPDATED: Father Eugene Plasse, 77, longtime Scouting chaplain, dies unexpectedly

REGIONAL
Staff report

 

SPRINGFIELD – Father Eugene J. Plasse, 77, the longtime chaplain for the Springfield Diocese’s Catholic Committee on Scouting, died unexpectedly on Oct. 13 while visiting his sister in Virginia.

The son of Hector J. Plasse and Marie Irene (Racicot) Plasse, he was born on Nov. 18, 1940 in Holyoke and was a native of St. Christopher Parish in Brimfield.

He graduated from Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, Mass., in 1959 and entered the U.S. Army, serving until 1963 and attaining the rank of Specialist Fifth Class. He did post-graduate studies at St. Philip Neri School in Haverhill, Mass., from 1963-1964, and studied at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn., from 1964-1966. He completed seminary studies at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary in Albany, N.Y., in 1972 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1972 at St. Christopher Church, Brimfield, by Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon.

Father Plasse served as an assistant at the former St. Anthony Parish, North Adams from 1972-1979 and at Sacred Heart Parish, Pittsfield, from 1979-1982. He then served as administrator at Sacred Heart Parish, Pittsfield from 1982-1983.

He served as an assistant at the former St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Northampton from 1983-1986. He then was appointed pastor of the former St. Thomas Parish, Huntington, serving from 1986-1995, when he was named pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Palmer. He also served as pastor of the former St. Bartholomew Parish in Bondsville and the former St. Mary Parish in Thorndike from 1995-2009.

Father Plasse was named assistant chaplain for the Catholic Committee on Scouting in 1984 and became chaplain for that committee in 1988, remaining in that position until his death.

He was appointed chaplain of the Daughters of Isabella Palmer Circle in 1996 and of the Knights of Columbus Palmer Council in 1997.

Chicopee resident Bob Mashia, former chairman of the diocese’s Catholic Committee on Scouting, described Father Plasse as “an avid Scouter.”

“He said countless Masses for retreats, camporees, and campouts, and was instrumental in creating a Youth Core Group to oversee Scout retreat programs,” Mashia told iObserve. “He was a true Scout and took youth under his care and cherished his time hiking and working with them.”

Mashia added that Father Plasse attended several national and regional Catholic Committee conferences, and was awarded the St. George Emblem in 1982 and the St. Anne Medal in 2004.

Father Plasse retired on Aug. 1, 2016.

He leaves his sisters, Marie I. Joly of Holyoke, and Elaine A. Plasse of Bedford, Va.,; his brother, Ronald J. Plasse, and his wife, Lou Ann, of Cotati, Calif.; his nephews and nieces, Armand J. Joly III, and his partner, Theresa Benoit, of Holyoke, Ann M. Knight and her husband, Rick, of Chicopee, Hope M. Plasse of Virginia, Ronald J. Plasse Jr. and his wife, Lisa, of Roseville, Calif., Amanda A. Plasse of Oswego, N.Y., Adam J. Plasse of Santa Rosa, Calif.,

Rebecca I. Rains and her husband, Joshua, of San Leandro, Calif., and Luke E. Plasse and his wife, Ava, of New York, N.Y.; his many grandnephews and grandnieces; and his many cousins, brother priests, friends and extended members of the Plasse and Racicot families.

In addition to his parents, he also was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Armand J. Joly Jr.

Father Plasse will lie in state on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with a prayer vigil service at 5 p.m., at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1076 Thorndike Street, Palmer, MA 01069. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, on Monday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Palmer. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Diocese of Springfield, for the benefit of Catholic Scouting, P.O. Box 1730, Springfield, MA 01102-1730.