Rev. Leo A. Hetzler, C.S.B.
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Hetzler, Rev. Leo A. C.S.B. Rochester, NY: Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the age of 91 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse. Predeceased by his parents, Leo and Alice Hetzler. Survived by nieces Charlene Coffee and Joanne Fedder and nephew Gary Kohler and his Basilian confrères. Upon graduation from the Aquinas Institute, Fr. Leo enlisted in the U.S. Army as a combat infantryman and served during World War II both in Europe and in the Pacific. He received the Combat Infantrymen’s Award and remained active all his life as a local and national chaplain of the Combat Infantrymen of America. Fr. Leo professed vows in the Basilian Fathers on September 12, 1947 and attended the University of Toronto. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1955. He received his Ph.D. in English Literature at Cornell University and served as a beloved professor of English at St. John Fisher College. Fr. Leo lived in community in the Basilian Residence associated with St. John Fisher until he moved to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester in 2015. Calling hours will be held on TUESDAY 3-5 pm and 6-7 pm at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse 150 French Road, with a concluding Vigil Service at 7 pm. Fr. Leo will lie in state on WEDNESDAY from 10:00 am until his Funeral Mass at 11:00 am at St. Kateri at Christ the King Church, 445 Kings Hwy S. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Saint John Fisher College, 3690 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14618 or The Basilian Fathers Retirement Fund, c/o 445 Kings Highway S., Rochester, NY 14617 in his memory. To share a memory or sign Fr. Leo’s online guestbook, please visit www.Meesonfamily.com.
Father Hetzler was a beloved treasure of the students at St. John Fisher College. He lived on our dormitory floor during my sophomore year and was a true friend for all the students. His distinguished service and bravery during WW II must also be recognized We, as U.S. citizens thank him…..We were blessed to have had such a ‘man of all seasons’..
I did not know Father Hetzler, but he was a friend of my father’s. He and my dad met through the Rochester chapter of the Combat Infantrymen of America. Both were in the same company in the army. My father never talked about his experiences during the war, but I know that he saw a lot of action and lost many friends. After my dad retired, somehow he got involved with the group and formed a friendship with Father Hetzler. I know that the friendship meant a lot to my dad. Here was someone who had been in the same battles as my dad and could talk about these experiences that happened decades ago when they were both just teenagers! Thanks to Father Hetzler, I got a small glimpse of a part of my father’s life that he had kept buried.
I only met Father Hetzler once when he made a house visit to my family while we sat shiva for my dad, but I could tell that he was a very kind and thoughtful gentleman. I am profoundly glad for the friendship he had with my dad.
May is memory be for a blessing and the love and kindness he shared live on.
Ellen Itkin (Dr. Bernard Friedman’s daughter)
I so enjoyed discussions about Chesterton when Fr Leo participated. He was so full of knowledge and keen insight! He was an intellectual and spiritual giant and will be keenly missed!
Suzanne Stack
Life Issues Coordinator for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester
Leo was a naturally and genuinely genial colleague of mine for more than a decade in Fisher’s English department. I learned a lot from him about perspective and kindness; I suspect many people did. At some pointI don’t remember the specific contextwe found ourselves in conversation about his service in WWII, and I remember thinking even then that I could no more imagine Leo in combat than I could imagine the same of my own father (1922-2007), a bombardier flying out of Kunming, China, 1944-45. There was a gentleness in them both that simply defied war and all it entailed. Every time I ran into Leo after he retired, I was glad for the encounter, and I know the world is a better place for him having been in it. Rest in peace, my friend.
I would like to send my condolences to the family on Leo’s passing. I think Loe’s father owned the Hetzler Brothers Ice Company at 801 Driving Park Ave. in Rochester NY. Hetzler Ice Company sponsored a football team my grandfather played on back in the 1920’s. I was wondering if any of the family members might have pictures of the Hetzler Ice Company or maybe pictures of the football team that Loe’s father sponsored. Once again my condolences go out to the family on the passing of Leo. I can be reached at wdsbb6157@rochester.rr.com Please use the subject (Hetzler Ice) as I get a lot of people wanting to send me pictures of the Tenth Ward.