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Father Tom Composto, our local priest who lived at the Saint Francis Center (1 block east of RHHP) for the past 47 years, died in his sleep yesterday at the University of Maryland Hospital. He complained of not feeling well a couple of Sundays ago before mass. We suggested that he cancel the service and get some rest. Later in the week he went to see his doctor and was immediately hospitalized. We visited him on Sunday at the intensive care unit but he was sedated but we thought he looked well. Ellen received an email this morning from the director of St. Francis center informing her that Fr. Tom had passed away in his sleep.
I will miss his presence in the neighborhood when he was out and about on his daily walks with his dog Vicky. It was comforting to know that he kept an eye on things on the streets and he knew the goings on in the neighborhood. I will also miss his short masses and three minute homilies. The services were informal and intimate. He had a weird (and irreverent) humor and a maniacal laugh which punctuated the liturgy.
He was a man of faith and conviction who believed in justice and stood by Reservoir Hill right through the blighted years while those with the means moved away to safer neighborhoods. I regret that I did not have the chance to learn more about his life in Reservoir Hill through the 60's and 70's. That would have been fascinating.
