RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Reverend Thomas N. Pelton has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age seventy-two; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Roberto Maldonado; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Thomas N. Pelton. affectionately known as "Father Tom", served as Pastor Emeritus of Maternity of the BVM Parish in the Humboldt Park neighborhood where he faithfully ministered for nearly fifteen years; and
WHEREAS, A wise and caring cleric of great humility, kindness and compassion, Father Tom devoted his life to the service of others; and
WHEREAS, A native of Evergreen Park, Father Tom was ordained in 1966 by then-Archbishop John Cardinal Cody and was first assigned to serve as Assistant Pastor at St. Jerome Parish in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Father Tom went on to minister at a number of area parishes throughout his religious life, including St. Bernard Parish, Holy Trinity Parish, Our Lady of the Angels Parish, St. Anthony Parish, Our Lady of the Mount Parish and St. Aloysius Parish; and
WHEREAS, Father Tom was named Administrator for Maternity BVM Parish on North Avenue in Chicago in 1996 and was named Pastor in May of 1997; and
WHEREAS, Father Tom faithfully and joyfully led the parish until his retirement in 2011 when he was named Pastor Emeritus; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his religious training Father Tom held a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology; and
WHEREAS, Father Tom's expertise in clinical psychology and his caring nature was exemplified by his service at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center as Coordinator of the Supportive Program where his work focused on cancer and HIV patients and their families; and
WHEREAS, A man of great compassion, Father Tom embraced Humboldt Park's immigrant community and cared deeply about the social and health care issues affecting immigrants; and
WHEREAS, The only son of the late Norbert and Josephine, Father Tom is survived by his beloved sisters, Norine Matthews, Joanne Pitulla, Colette (Terence) McGuinness and Mary Anne (George) Hannibal; and
WHEREAS, Although Father Tom dealt with some of the darkest and most difficult challenges of humanity, he always celebrated life with his sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye: now. therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fifteenth day of January, 2014, do hereby commemorate the Reverend Thomas N. Pelton on his grace-filled lite and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
Alderman - 26th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Reverend Thomas N. Pelton.