Last Updated 4/27On Wednesday, April 15, 2009, Dr. Thomas E. Dillon, the president of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, was killed in an automobile accident in Ireland, where he was traveling with his wife, Terri, on behalf of the college. Mrs. Dillon was only slightly injured and is hospitalized for the time being. Family members and a representative of the College are en route to Ireland to bring Mrs. Dillon back to California and to accompany Dr. Dillon’s body.
A rosary was said and Mass offered for the repose of Dr. Dillon’s soul at 3:00 p.m. today in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. Information concerning funeral arrangements will be posted at a later time.
Please pray for the happy repose of Dr. Dillon’s soul, and for the consolation of his family.
Read more about Dr. Thomas Dillon and his work:
A Conversation with the President of Thomas Aquinas College (National Catholic Register)
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT THOMAS E. DILLON, CONVOCATION DAY
THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE, AUGUST 22, 2005 (Scroll down to read)
Masses:
Funeral Mass:
The Funeral Mass for Dr. Dillon will be held in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel on Friday, April 24, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Santa Paula Cemetery. Lunch will be served on the Thomas Aquinas College campus immediately after.
A Rosary is scheduled for Thursday evening, April 23, 2009 at 7:30 p.m., also in the Chapel. An all-night vigil will follow.
The Dillon family has asked that any memorial donations be made to Thomas Aquinas College or, more specifically, to Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.
Tuesday, April 21st, 7 pm
1145 South Street
It will be a Mass in the extraordinary form
Saturday April 25, 2009 10AM
The Dominican House of Studies, 487 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017
to be celebrated by Fr. John Thomas Mellein (1999)
Immaculate Heart Radio will be offering the rosary aired at 8 PM for Dr. Dillon. Tune in or join via computer:http://www.ihradio.org/ This will continue fromApril 22 through May 2.
Tributes and News Stories:
Archbishop Pietro Sambi - Apostolic Nuncio
Cardinal Roger Mahony
Within the TAC Community (Tutors, Alumni, Parents, etc.):
Memorial Page on Facebook
Blessed Among Men
Carmie's Conifer Cabin
Cozy Tea-Blue House
A Faithful Rebel
Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (Dr. Andrew Seeley)
John Dunlap (father of several current students and alumni)
Life in a Nutshell
Remembering Tom Dillon by Joseph Susanka (Inside Catholic, 4/24)
Small Treasures
Studeo
Future TACers:
A Maiden's Wreath
Tributes from others in Catholic Education:
The C.S. Lewis Foundation
Cardinal Newman Society
Christendom College
Magdalen College
Thomas More College
Wyoming Catholic College (tribute presently published on the home page)
A Life of Faith and Reason (Thomas Hibbs in National Review Online)
Other Bloggers:
Faith and Family Live Blog
Holy Innocents Catholic Church, Long Beach
In the Light of the Law Ed Peters
WDTPRS (Lovely mini-tributes in the comments)
News Reports
(some are repetitive, but there are many worthwhile comments):
Catholic Business Journal (4/22)
Catholic Community Forum
Catholic Culture (4/16)
In Memoriam: Tom Dillon, President of Thomas Aquinas College by Robert Moynihan (Catholic Exchange 4/16)
President of Thomas Aquinas College dies in car crash in Ireland (Catholic News Agency 4/16)
A Request for Prayers Joseph Susanka (Inside Catholic, 4/15)
Obituary: Thomas Dillon dies at 62; president of Thomas Aquinas College (Los Angeles Times 4/18)
Particularly interesting as it gives details on the early 1990s accreditation controversy that Dr. Dillon had a big impact on.
National Catholic Register
Leading Catholic Educator dies in Ireland by Robert Moynihan (Spero News 4/16)
Ventura County Star
Catholic Higher Education: A Bumpy Anniversary Week (Touchstone Magazine: Mere Comments)
Colleagues Praise Life of Thomas Aquinas College President (Catholic News Agency)
Funeral Mass Set for Thomas Aquinas President (Ventura County Star - 4/21)
Recalling "a true servant" of Thomas Aquinas College (The Tidings - 4/23)
School President's Death Mourned at Thomas Aquinas (Ventura County Star)
Thomas Dillon's Glorious Vision (Ventura County Star)
Tom Dillon vs. the Relativists (Ignatius Insight 4/22)
U.S. Head of College Killed in Car Crash (Herald.ie)
Obituary: Ventura County Star
Regarding the Funeral:
Thomas Aquinas College buries its President (Zenit)
Thomas Aquinas College remembers its Late Leader (Ventura County Star)
4 comments:
Beautiful job on this. It is a comfort to see his smiling face here. We will miss him dearly.
Fr. Thomas Nelson, O. Praem. celebrated the 10:30 Mass today (April 19, Divine Mercy Sunday) at the chapel of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois for the repose of Dr. Dillon's soul and for the faculty, students and alumni of Thomas Aquinas College. Over a dozen priests concelebrated the Mass, as it was the concluding Mass of the annual meeting of the Institute on Religious Life, which was held this weekend. Dr. Dillon has served on the board of directors of the IRL. Also present at the Mass were dozens of consecrated religious men and women.
I was one of the very few if not the ONLY African student FORTUNATE enough to have been impacted by Dr. Dillon who was my Professor in Theology at TAC. Words cannot express my DEEPEST sorrow at the loss of such a wonderful person who stood up for the ideals of a peaceful and harmonious world. His smiles and charm were ALWAYS disarming. I am still in tearful shock but consoled that he is in God's perfect bliss.
May his soul REST in PERFECT peace.
Prof. (Dr) Attakora (1984 class)
Dr. Dillon gave permission for the establishment of the Legion of Mary on the campus of Thomas Aquinas College when he was Dean of Students in 1978. There have been two Legion praesidia (unit groups) on campus for about 30 years now. I'm asking Dr. Dillon to intercede that they may continue to flourish as an integral part of the excellent Catholic education at TAC! Therese Syren, class of '80
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