Remembering Father Leo Klosterman

Bienvenido / Página Inicial (Español) / Noticias & Información

(Courtesy of the B.C. Catholic, by Laureen McMahon)

Basilian priest Father Leo Klosterman died of cancer in the early hours of Saturday, Nov. 3, in Windsor Regional Hospital in Ontario. He was 80. He will be remembered by many for his years of service to St. Mark's College and to St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish at UBC, which he served as pastor from 1997-2004. He left Vancouver two years ago to retire to Windsor.

"He was always so kind, humble, and down to earth," said his friend, St. Ignatius parishioner Janice Dulk. "He was very conscientious about pastoral duties when he was appointed to St. Ignatius and took the trouble to get to know everyone's name. He also had a terrific sense of humour."

Fellow retired Basilians Father James Hanrahan and Father Denis April, both of whom had also served at St. Mark's, were with Father Klosterman at the time of his death.

Born in the U.S. to Canadian parents in 1927, Father Klosterman made his profession as a Basilian on Aug. 15, 1947, and was ordained a priest on June 29, 1954. He received a BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1949, an MS in chemistry from the University of Detroit in 1963, and a PhD in the history of science from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. He taught chemistry at Catholic Central High School in Detroit. In 1967 he received the Metropolitan Detroit Science Teachers' Association Distinguished Service Award. In 1970 he received the James Bryant Conant Award from the American Chemical Society. Father Klosterman taught at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Tex., where Archbishop Michael Miller was president for several years. While in Vancouver, he served as a judge for the Vancouver Regional Marriage Tribunal for five years, and as chaplain to the Newman Association from 1992 to 2005.

His love for research extended beyond the history of chemistry; Father Klosterman also enjoyed researching the origins of his family roots, and had traced his family tree on both sides back to the 17th century.

Dr. David Sylvester, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic Colleges at UBC, commented in a letter to Father Kenneth Decker, the Basilian Superior General, "The success of our Catholic Colleges is the Basilian legacy on the West Coast, and Father Klosterman played a major role in this work. Vancouver is indeed a much richer place because of his presence among us. He is missed by many people in our community and we all take great comfort in the knowledge that Father Leo lived a good life and has earned his heavenly reward for his faithful ministry to us."

In retirement in Windsor, Father Klosterman served as chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Council 1453 and belonged to the Dean Wagner 4th Degree Knights.

Mass of Christian Burial was offered on the morning of Nov. 6 at Assumption Church in Windsor. Interment was in Heavenly Rest Cemetery, also in Windsor. Father Klosterman is survived by his sister Margaret of St. Louis, Mo., and brother Joe Klosterman of Clearwater, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Lawrence, George, and Leonard.

The UBC Catholic community will commemorate Father Klosterman's contributions with two memorial Masses. The first will be offered on Nov. 14 at 12:10 p.m. at St. Mark's College Chapel, 5935 Iona Drive on the northeast corner of the UBC campus. The second is for St. Ignatius Parish and will be offered on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 9:30 a.m., also at St. Mark's College Chapel. Receptions will follow both Masses, and parking is available at the Chan Centre.