(585) 544-2041
info@harrisfuneralhome.com
Tribute Wall
In Memory of
Rev. Joseph A. Trovato C.S.B.
1930 - 2020
Loading...
G
Gloria LoVecchio posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
I truly loved this man. He was always there for us, a calming force when life was hectic and challenging, always ready to listen, a living example of all the positive and good we embraced, a man we wished to emulate.
Sunday morning Masses on campus held a deeper meaning for me than those at my parish. His soft voice, unassuming demeanor, and deep spirituality permeated my very being. While a friend to all, he made each of us feel special. I know I felt special while in his company. His subtle humor and appreciation of a good joke struck a chord with those of us singing at Mass, for sure. He seemed to enjoy our antics—“Oh, good, you brought the wine,” always brought forth a chuckle! My memories of SJFC are special, and those of time spent with Fr. Joe are among the very best.
Gloria LoVecchio (Pucci)
Class of 1975
J
Juanita Urban-Rich posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Fr. Joe has always been a part of my life. My family meet him a year or two before I was born. He was a friend, a colleague, a kind person who you could always go and talk to. He was a part of every major event in my family - home masses, weddings, baptisms and funerals. Even my mom's funeral that he con celebrated just 4 months ago. He was an example to me of how one should live. I feel blessed to have known him and to have had him as a friend.
N
Noreene Pearl-Stahlecker pledged to donate to Fr. Joseph A. Trovato, CSB Scholarship Fund
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
May you rest in the arms of our Father for eternity.
Farewell, Father, We were blessed to know you.
Please wait
B
Bruce Thiell uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 27, 2020
/public-file/2429/Ultra/5ea4f161-36d8-444a-9fe6-a9eaef0c2142.jpg
We have known Father Joe since the fall of 1971. It was through a program run by his campus ministry that we met. So we owe a great deal of thanks to him for helping to bring about our marriage of 47 years. And for all this time his friendship has been a great blessing to us. Even more important has been his witness to Christ. A witness of kindness, humility, compassion and love. We will greatly miss how he began his homilies with "My friends." Or, when he greeted you personally, "Peace." Father Joe was truly a friend to all and all could legitimately say he was their best friend.
Peace, Father Joe.
Bruce and Carol Thiell
(Photo includes another "Friend of Joe", Tim Sheehan.)
M
Mary Connorton lit a candle
Monday, July 27, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle.png
I am so glad that I met Father Trovato while a student at Fisher. The best decision I made when I got married (besides marrying my husband Joe) was to have Father Trovato wed us in 1984.
What a dear man. We were blessed to know him.
M
Mary Muench uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 27, 2020
/public-file/2427/Ultra/61072cf8-6917-46ec-ab22-4e86b0872d32.jpg
/public-file/2428/Ultra/1aff31ee-aec6-4997-afdd-5fdf8f023bf0.jpg
Dear Beloved Family of Fr Joe,
We were all so blessed having Fr Joe in our lives. Both my late husband Mark & I met Fr Joe when we were just 18 years old and students at St. John Fisher College. He was one of the most down to earth, humble & kind person I have ever met in my life. From the moment you met him you felt as though you had known him for years. In addition, to me he never aged! He was always child-like and unassuming.
Like many fellow alumni Fr Joe was part of our family. He was our spiritual guide in college, he married us in 1978, baptised our triplet sons in 1986, renewed our vows in 2010 and concelebrated mass in 2014 at my husbands funeral. He was part of many of our family events and shared dinner with us numerous times at our home. I marvel that no matter how busy his schedule was he always found time for us in in life. He was a true mentor to us individually, as a couple and with our children.
I am so grateful for having met Fr Joe and for having him being part of my life story. I will greatly miss him here on earth, but I find comfort knowing he will be forever in my heart.
Love,
Mary, Andrew, Brian & Christopher Muench
P
Paul Anastasi uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, July 26, 2020
/public-file/2420/Ultra/5ebfa0b8-f395-49e8-bc5d-dcf259c0193c.jpeg
/public-file/2421/Ultra/de91cc3e-727e-4133-9aef-d1b9278397b0.jpeg
/public-file/2422/Ultra/11b30c1d-4645-4d5a-9af5-574145041049.jpeg
/public-file/2423/Ultra/2a906a94-56dd-4ee1-9cf7-970b92cb743d.jpeg
+ 3
I only wish I could articulate the correct words to give honor to Father Joseph Trovato CSB.
With all of the Basilian fathers, Fr. Joe gave all his support to the parishioners of Christ the King church, and ican attest to the love he demonstrated to the parish youth as I witnessed during my 15 years as their youth minister.
Fr. Joe was “ALL IN” when we planned and shared youth group events and activities. He always wanted to be a part and we always welcomed him too.
He attended many of our teen retreats and said Mass, and heard confessions and sang with us. When some youth were hurting and needed counsel. Fr. Joe was there
Several times we travelled to Toronto for service projects and then we were able to attend a popular musical Fr Joe was there.
We planned our three hour teen masses and Fr. Joe was there
We practiced and shared the living stations of the cross, the passion. Fr. Joe was there
We identified several youth who never made their confirmation so Fr Joe set up a guide for the sponsors and For the youth. We. met with him for several weeks in the rectory. I was one of those sponsors
We laughed with him and we cried with him. Fr. Joe was young at heart
Father never complained when on Sundays we met for Youth group, often with over 50 noisey youth. The youth room was just about under his office.
Many events that the teens were involved, for example their school proms, they were anxious to visit Fr. Joe and share It with him
During the last few days many of those same teens, now of course a little older, have posted just how much they loved him as he always helped them through difficult times.
Fr. Joe shepherd so many of them
Early when the youth group started we adopted a logo The lion and the lamb.
This was an important symbol to Fr. Joe
The symbol is used to represent the Messianic Age. In Christianity, according to a sermon by Augustine, the lion stands for Christ resurrected, the lamb for Christ's sacrifice ("He endured death as a lamb; he devoured it as a lion."—Augustine, Sermon 375A
How blessed we are to have him in our lives and have him pray for us
Back at you Fr. Joe, we’re praying for you.
I’m adding a few additional photos
F
Fran Flanagan lit a candle
Saturday, July 25, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/candle_peace.png
Lorraine & Chris,
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear Uncle.
Father Joe was a comfort to me during losses I have experienced.
I will always remember his kindness and smile.
May you both find Peace in knowing that he is with Our Savior.
Fran (Dambra) Flanagan, BK Class of 81
C
Carol Graham pledged to donate to Fr. Joseph A. Trovato, CSB Scholarship Fund
Saturday, July 25, 2020
Fr. Joe - a wonderful role model and life-long friend to John and me since fall of 1968.
Please wait
G
George A. Lopez posted a condolence
Saturday, July 25, 2020
In the national tumult of our late sixties time at Fisher, when chaplains at so many campuses were as radicalized - or more so – than their students, into our lives walked a quiet, gentle and wise chaplain called Fr. Joe. I know I was not the only student of the time who sought him for counsel on everything from why the government, or the Church, failed move more rapidly to end war and injustice, or to how to make a good tomato sauce. He was always more directive about the latter. In the former he prompted and turned– without judgment on his part – the deeper questions back to us. And he continually provided a walking/talking example of critical self-reflection and insight into the human in everyone. And then he would keep having that Prayer of St. Francis continually sung at the Sunday Mass to make his message more deep-rooted!
Indeed, when I look at the life choices of so many Fisher friends, there is little question that we learned from him how to generate love, pardon, faith, light and joy. Now, in losing Fr. Joe we console one another. And we take these final moments to understand anew how blessed we were to have him play such a large role in teaching us the Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge of the College he loved. Thanks dear Fr. Joe.
Lopey '72
K
Karen Jenkins uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, July 25, 2020
/public-file/2419/Ultra/871f1db8-e4af-48bb-b915-e9c28dfec103.jpg
A wonderful priest and beautiful friend to many. He will be missed. God Speed Fr. Trovato
M
Michael Conroy posted a condolence
Saturday, July 25, 2020
To The Family Of Father Joe Trovato,
I am very sorry for your loss.
I have great memories of Father Joe during my years at Fisher. He enriched those special years by his presence, smile, guidance and eulogy’s. He touched my life in so many ways. Father Joe Trovato was Gods gift to Fisher.
Michael Conroy - Class of 1976
L
Lorraine Lantz-Udovich uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, July 23, 2020
/public-file/2417/Ultra/04777820-0838-4bf8-9311-75dddc9a158b.png
/public-file/2418/Ultra/065aa61a-43fd-4277-a80d-0eacfc39cab2.jpg
To the world (literally) he was known as Father Joe Trovato. But to my brother and I he was simply Uncle Joe. He was our “father” -after our father-his brother died when Chris and I were only 10. He was the one at my brothers games cheering him on. He would come watch me cheer. He taught me to drive (which is the only time I can remember him yelling at me for going too fast and slamming the breaks. “You need to pump the breaks” he would tell me). He was the one that attempted to teach me to play golf until I made a huge divot on the new Fisher course. He handed me his car keys and said I could go sit in the car and listen to the radio if I want. There wasn’t a birthday or Christmas that would go by that he did not send us a card with money in it-even in our 50’s. I can remember as a small child going with my dad to pick him up at Fisher. My brother and I would play a game to see who could find the steeple first. His infamous advise to me growing up was always “Don’t wish your life away!” I loved this man more than words can express. His humility and kindness were as close to representing Christ as anyone I ever met. In the later years we became very close. If I ever had a hero he was it. Thankfully we were able to zoom with him last week while he was in the hospital. He laughed when I told him not to give the nurses a hard time. My uncle spent his life serving the Lord so one day he could stand with Him. Today he is doing just that. He is also getting an earful from his sisters Rose and Kay. Rest in Peace Uncle Joe. Until we meet again. I Love You!
F
Fr. Norm Tanck, CSB posted a condolence
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Remembering Fr. Joe Trovato, CSB
I am remembering Fr. Joe Trovato, CSB because very few people referred to him as Fr. Joseph Trovato. Most often he was loving called Fr. Joe and to his Basilian brothers he was just Joe.
I am, at this point, the Basilian who has known, lived, worked and prayed with Joe longer than any other Basilian.
I first met Fr. Joe when I was an undergraduate at St. John Fisher College in the mid-1960’s. In those days Joe was the College Chaplain, later the title would be changed to Director of Campus minister. I was a lay student and a commuter but was actively involved with the Sunday Masses, later they would be called Liturgies, and with the Fisher-Nazareth weekend retreats. Later when I was Director of Campus Ministry at Nazareth College, we called them the Nazareth-Fisher weekend retreats there.
The last time I saw Joe was at the wonderful celebration of his 90th birthday at St. John Fisher College. The last time a talked with him was by phone a couple of days before he died in Rochester General Hospital.
Over the years Fr. Joe, as college chaplain, was my pastor and later in Irondequoit, I would become his pastor. In religious life he has been my superior and I have been his. One of the few times we did not live together was when we worked together for eight years on the Basilian General Council. Fr. Joe was the Regional Representative for the Eastern United States and I was the First Assistant-Vicar General living in Toronto.
As time passes titles may have changed but the one constant in my life was always Fr. Joe Trovato.. As a mentor and friend, he was a major influence in my decision to become a Basilian. In his gentle and peaceful way Joe was always accessible and supportive. He took St. Paul’s advice seriously and lived it fully, “… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14).
There are several Basilians who trace our Basilian lineage back to Fr. Joe and St. John Fisher College; me, Frs. Paul English, Mitch Dowalgo, Jim Murphy. And there are many more who Joe supervised or mentored in their early years of ordained ministry who have gone on to be high school teachers and principals, university professors, a university president, parish priests, a Superior General of the Basilians and even a bishop. The people of Christ the King and St, Kateri Tekakwitha Parish provided the fertile ground in which their ministries could be tested and grow. For this Joe was always grateful. He prepared many young couples for marriage, presided at their weddings, baptized their children and grandchildren. He was a support to families in distress and a comfort to those who were mourning.
Many women and men religious, priests, deacons and lay faithful, attracted by Joe’s holiness and peaceful wisdom, sought him out for spiritual direction or counsel. One time they were even lined up to see him. As we were ending dinner one evening the student that was working as a receptionist in the Christ the King office came in to tell Fr. Joe that his 7:00PM appointment had arrived. About five minutes later she returned to tell him that his other 7:00PM appointment was here. Now we form a spiritual line to thank him for all that he was for us.
Fr. Joe will be missed but his presence and influence will continue in all who knew and loved him.
Let me close with the commendation prayer that is said at the time of the death of a faithful Christian:
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world in the name of God the almighty Father,
who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you, go forth, faithful Christian.
May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion, with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph, and all the Angels and Saints.
C
Carol Thiell Posted Jul 28, 2020 at 12:06 PM
Fr. Norm, you are right in saying that there are so many of us who will miss Fr. Joe but that we will continue to be blessed by his presence in our lives. Thank you for your words of comfort. We are thinking of you and holding you in our hearts at this time.
Bruce and Carol Thiell
e
The family of Rev. Joseph A. Trovato C.S.B. uploaded a photo
Thursday, July 23, 2020
/tribute-images/7535/Ultra/Rev-Joseph-Trovato-C-S-B.jpg
Please wait
Explore
Question?
Email*:
Name*:
Message*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.*:
There are some invalid fields.
Please wait...
Message has been successfully sent.