By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pater

The Rev. Thomas G. Pater held leadership roles at several Tristate Roman Catholic parishes and schools, and at administrative offices of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

He earned degrees from Mount St. Mary's, Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and in Rome.

After his service locally, he was a librarian at Catholic University for more than 25 years. During that time, he traveled the world to attend library conferences.

The Hamilton, Ohio, native died Tuesday at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 86.

"Many will remember Father Tom as one who loved to discuss any topic - religious, philosophical or scientific - relentlessly and in the logic of cheerful debate in which he `fought fair' on behalf of the truth and clear thinking," said a nephew, Msgr. Daniel Pater, counsellor and chargÈ d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican's embassy) in New Delhi, India.Father Pater graduated from St. Peter's in Hamilton and studied philosophy at St. Gregory Seminary. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology from Mount St. Mary's of the West Seminary, the Athenaeum of Ohio in Mount Washington.

Father Pater was ordained in 1942 by then-Archbishop John T. McNicholas at the former Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Norwood.

He was appointed to the Institution Divi Thomae (a Diocesan institution dedicated to scientific knowledge and research), with residence at St. Clare Convent in Hartwell. He also assisted at St. Ann Church in Hamilton.

In May 1944, he was appointed associate pastor at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati. But in September of that year, he left for Catholic University in Washington, D.C., to study theology. He earned a doctorate in sacred theology there in 1946.

Father Pater was appointed an associate at Queen of Peace Church in Millville in 1946, but left later that year for the Angelicum in Rome, where he earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1948.

He then was an associate at St. Louis Church in downtown Cincinnati and served as diocesan executive secretary of the Christian Information Center here. In May 1949, he was appointed to assist the chancellor and, in the fall, was also named librarian and instructor pro tempore at Mount St. Mary's Seminary, where he taught theology.

In 1959, Father Pater returned to Catholic University to study library science and, in 1960, became a member of the University Library staff. He occasionally lectured in theology and contributed to the New Catholic Encyclopedia.

After retiring in 1986, Father Pater continued to work in the cataloging department at Catholic University, first on a part-time basis, then as a volunteer. He was invited to library conventions in China, Russia, India and Turkey.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Julius and a sister, Pauline Schumann.

Survivors include a brother, Eugene of Hamilton

A Mass of Christian burial will be at noon today at St. Ann Catholic Church, 646 Clinton Ave., Hamilton. Interment will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Hamilton.

Memorials: American Cancer Society, 11117 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242-1817.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com