Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Rev. F. Thomas Lallak

July 9, 1938 – June 22, 1993

 

South Bend Tribune 6/22/1993 (Exerpts)

SOUTH BEND – Rev. F. Thomas Lallak, who served 29 years in local Catholic churches and 21 years as a police chaplain, died at 12:34 a.m. today in the rectory of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Auburn, following an illness. He was 54. In addition to serving several local churches, Rev. Lallak was known as a roving photographer on the sidelines at Notre Dame football games. Wearing his Roman collar and several cameras, he ran up and down the line with other photographers. He was born July 9, 1938 if Fort Wayne. He was a graduate of St. Meinrad College and St. Meinrad School of Theology. He had a bachelors degree in history. He was ordained on May 30, 1964 by Bishop Leo A. Pursley.

 

He spent 24 years as a priest in South Bend  as an assistant at St. Anthony de Pauda Church and St. John the Baptist, and as a pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. He was transferred to Immaculate Conception Church in Auburn in 1988. Rev. Lallak became a chaplain for the South Bend Police Department in 1967 and remained with the department until he left for Auburn. He received the honorary rank of captain of the department in 1972. He also served as a chaplain for the South Bend Fire Department. During his time on the police department , Rev. Lallak researched and wrote a book on the history of the department.

 

He was born July 9, 1938 in Fort Wayne, and lived in Auburn for five years, going there from South Bend. He is survived by his mother, Irene Lallak of Fort Wayne and a brother, Terrence of Chicago.

 

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Auburn. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery, Auburn. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in McComb, Dilgard & Cline Funeral Home, Auburn where a parish rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. and from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the church, where prayer services will be at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Father Tom Lallak Tennis Scholarship or St. Meinrad Seminary.