October 24, 2019

Local college to hold Celebration of Life for Father Leo Hoar, longtime campus minister

REGIONAL 
Staff report

Father Leo Hoar, longtime campus minister in the Springfield Diocese, died on April 28, 2019. He was 78. (Catholic Communications file photo)

SPRINGFIELD – At the request of Springfield College alumni, this year’s Homecoming Weekend will include a Celebration of Life service in memory of Father Leo Hoar, the longtime campus minister, who died on April 28, 2019, at the age of 78.

The service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 26 at Marsh Memorial Chapel, located on the Springfield College Quad. Parking should be available in Lot 4 off Wilbraham Avenue. If not, college security will be present to direct visitors to available parking.

A native of the former Holy Cross Parish in Holyoke, Father Hoar was ordained at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield, on May 14, 1966 by Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon. He served as an assistant at several Springfield Diocese parishes and also was a part-time faculty member at the former Notre Dame High School in Springfield; and later was director of Notre Dame High School and the former Sacred Heart Elementary School in Springfield.

Father Hoar received a doctoral degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. He served in campus ministry in the Springfield Diocese from 1977-2007 at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke; and at American International College, Springfield College, and Springfield Technical Community College, all in Springfield.

For many years, Father Hoar accompanied Springfield College students to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, spending spring breaks doing missionary work at local orphanages.

At Springfield College, the Father Hoar Meditation Room was dedicated in his honor.  

He retired on June 22, 2010.