The Rev. Francis J. Sahlfeld lived with one foot in the realm of faith and the other in the world of science.

        A priest for 53 years and a physics teacher at Elder High School for 23 years, Father Sahlfeld died Tuesday at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. He was 80.

        Raised in Hyde Park, Father Sahlfeld attended St. Mary School and graduated from Purcell High School.

        He studied at St. Gregory and Mount St. Mary of the West seminaries, obtaining a graduate degree in art from the Athenaeum of Ohio and a science degree from the teacher's college at Athenaeum. Father Sahlfeld was ordained to the priesthood in 1948 by Archbishop John T. McNicholas.

        He taught senior physics at Elder High School in Price Hill for 23 years and was notorious, according to his nephew, John Hirn, for assigning six pages of reading per night and then observing students as they left school to see who was carrying his physics book. Those who did not were given a pop quiz the next day.

        “He strongly urged his students to achieve their best through hard work day in and day out,” said Mr. Hirn of West Chester.

        While teaching, Father Sahlfeld served as associate pastor at Cincinnati parishes: Blessed Sacrament, 1948-51; St. Augustine, 1951-56; Old St. Mary, 1956-58; Our Lady of Lourdes, 1958-61; St. Martin of Tours, 1961-66; and St. Vivian, 1966-69.

        In 1969, Father Sahlfeld was named administrator of Blessed Sacrament until 1971, when he became pastor of Queen of Peace Parish in Millville. He was made pastor at Holy Name Church in Blanchester in 1983, where he served until his 1989 retirement.

        “He was a great example of fidelity in the priesthood,” said Mr. Hirn.

        Father Sahlfeld performed the marriage ceremonies of all his nieces and nephews and the baptisms of his three great-nephews and great-niece as well as their communion, reconciliation and confirmation ceremonies.

        He loved to travel and had been to Europe and the Middle East.

        Other survivors include his sister, Rita Riddell of Sycamore Township; niece, Nancy Hirn of Chicago; and nephew, Mark Hirn of Hermosa Beach, Calif.

        Mass of Christian burial is 10 a.m. today at St. Michael Church of Sharonville, 11144 Spinner Ave. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery.

        Memorials can be made to St. Michael Church Capital Campaign Fund, 11144 Spinner Ave., Sharonville, OH 45241.

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