Priest With Ties To Mt. Greenwood, Palos, Oak Lawn Parishes Dies At 71

CHIICAGO – Rev. Daniel M. Tomich, a retired Archdiocesan priest with ties to parishes in Beverly, Palos Heights, Oak Lawn and Hickory Hills, died Saturday. He was 71. Tomich is the former associate pastor at St. John Fisher Church.

Tomich was born on Jan. 22, 1951, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles College in Niles and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1976, by Cardinal John Cody, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 23 of the same year at St. Denis Parish in Chicago.

Tomich began his service to the people of the archdiocese as associate pastor at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills, St. Victor Parish in Calumet City and St. Monica Parish on Foster Avenue in Chicago. Later, he was pastor at Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverdale for more than 10 years, and he ministered as associate pastor at St. Alexander Parish in Palos Heights and St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Oak Lawn.

“His friendship has been a gift,” said Rev. Dennis Zaleck, the pastor emeritus of St. Anastasia Parish in Waukegan.

Zalecki met Tomich during seminary at Quigley South and he recalled that they were bound together by their mutual sense of humor. Their humor and faith kept them close and connected from the very beginning of their priestly journey, which started with concelebrating each other’s first Mass.

Rev. Gerry Gunderson, pastor emeritus of Mary Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge, remembered his classmate as his Latin lesson tutor.

“He was a conscientious student and a conscientious priest,” Gunderson said. “He was very dedicated in all his assignments. He had different ailments, but I always admired how he carried on with courage and faith.”

Visitation hours will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. on July 1, with the funeral Mass immediately following at St. Bede- St. Denis Church, 8301 S. St. Louis Avenue in Chicago. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will be the main celebrant of the Mass.