Name: Breidenbach, Thomas Henry
Born: 1930
Place Belleville, Illinois
Ordained: 05/03/1956
Place Ordained: St. Meinrad
Years of Service: 1956-1970
Died: 01/04/2020
Place Died: Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Burial Info: Cremated (no burial information given)
Notes: From his obituary:
Thomas Henry Breidenbach, 89, passed away peacefully on Jan 4th, 2020, surrounded by family and friends. Tom was born in Belleville, IL to Aloys and Barbara Breidenbach, the second youngest of four boys, all of whom loved to play golf! He attended St. Meinrad’s Seminary where he became an ordained priest in 1956. He then served proudly at St. Catherine’s and St. Therese Little Flower School in Indianapolis, Indiana, as both a parish priest as well as an educator for 15 years before relocating to Arizona in 1971. Tom then worked as a probation officer as well as a supervisor for the Maricopa County Probation Department for over 25 years –with a special emphasis in Restorative Justice, until his retirement.
During this period, he also received his Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Arizona State University. Tom was an avid lover of chorale and classical music and sang in choruses for most of his adult life, to include the Arizona Masterworks Chorale with whom he toured with extensively, giving performances in Europe and the United Kingdom as well as at Carnegie Hall and the dedication of the WWII Memorial in Washington. He was very proud and grateful for his beautiful tenor voice and sang at many family gatherings and weddings throughout the years.
Tom was also well-known for being an accomplished baker, to include his world-famous chocolate chip cookies! These cookies were sent all over the world to his children and the children of his family and friends as they attended college and began to make their own way in the world. Tom is best remembered by those who loved him for his gentle nature, his incredible kindness of heart and generosity of spirit that will always live on in the hearts and minds of those closest to him.
Tom is survived by his brother Joseph (Mary), his children Damon, Sarah (Jean-Luc), Amy (Michael), and Erin (Jeff) and five grandchildren, Jacob, Oscar, Addie, Landon and Acadia. He is preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers, William (Patricia) and Paul (Betty).
A memorial service is scheduled for Feb 15th at 10:00 AM at the Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E Lincoln Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85253. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Audubon Society in Tom’s name.