Thomas Robert Garvin S. J.

Fr. Thomas R. Garvin, S.J., passed away the morning of March 24, 2012 at Alderwood Manor, Spokane, WA. During his career, Fr. Garvin led people in prayer and worship, taught philosophy and history in the college classroom, and spent countless hours hiking and swimming in the Northwest. The eldest of two children, Thomas Robert Garvin was born on January 4, 1927, to Sylvester and Beulah (Carstens) Garvin of Seattle, WA. He graduated from Seattle Preparatory School in 1944, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Tom finished his military duties in 1946, and he was accepted into the Jesuit Novitiate at Sheridan, OR, on September 7, 1946. He pursued the regular course of studies for Jesuit scholastics and was ordained a priest on June 14, 1958, at St. Aloysius Church, Spokane, WA. Fr. Garvin spent the next 15 years in higher education, studying and then teaching Philosophy and History at Mt. St. Michael’s Seminary, Gonzaga University, and Seattle University. The following two decades were dedicated to parish work in the Seattle and Portland Archdioceses until declining health made retirement necessary; he moved to Spokane to live, pray and laugh heartily with his brother Jesuits at the Oregon Province assisted-living center. Fr. Garvin is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Richard and Patricia Smith of Palo Alto, CA, a niece, Jeannine Caruso of Greenwich, CT, many cousins, friends, and his brother Jesuits of the Oregon Province. A vigil service will be held at 7pm, Friday, March 30 at the Jesuit House Chapel, Gonzaga University. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am, Saturday, March 31, likewise at the Jesuit House Chapel. Inurnment will be at 1:30pm at the Oregon Province Cemetery, Mt. St. Michael’s, Spokane, WA. Contributions in honor of Fr. Tom Garvin, S.J. can be made to the Senior Fund, c/o Oregon Province Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286.