Thaddeus Clouthier, OFM

1905 – 1986

Fr. Thaddeus Clouthier, OFM, was born in North Adams, Mass., on Sept. 18, 1905. After high school, he worked for nine years before entering the St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., in 1929.

In 1933, he was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. He professed his temporary vows the following year and made his solemn profession of vows in 1937. In 1941, Fr. Thaddeus was ordained a priest in Washington, D.C.

He served for one year at St. Joseph’s Parish in Winsted, Conn., before being assigned to teach at St. Joseph Seminary in Callicoon. Fr. Thaddeus was an excellent teacher of French and Mathematics, and during his long teaching career not one of his students ever failed the Geometry Regents Examination of New York State. He served as both vicar of the Callicoon community and pastor of Holy Cross Church.

Fr. Thaddeus was a faithful priest who was always there in time of need. After 15 years in Sullivan County, he became pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Buffalo, N.Y. Five years later he was appointed to be pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Obernburg, N.Y. Fr. Thaddeus was an excellent teacher, a faithful Franciscan, and a sincere religious whose life impacted countless people for half a century. In 1975, he retired to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla.

He died Sept. 8, 1986 in Warwick, N.Y. Fr. Thaddeus was almost 81 years old, a professed friar for 52 years and a priest for 45 years.