By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONTGOMERY - The Rev. Edward F. Haskamp, a former teacher and procurator at Purcell High School and the first principal at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, died Friday after falling down stairs at his home.

He was 78.

Father Haskamp was "well known throughout the diocese and was a good athlete in his day," said his brother, Charles Haskamp of Reading. He "enjoyed skating, skiing, swimming, golf and especially sailing with his friends and family on Lake Erie."

He was so well liked by the parishes he served over the years that, even in retirement, he received numerous requests to perform marriages and baptisms, said his brother-in-law William Gavin of Delhi Township.

Father Haskamp, who was the son of the late Henry and Julia Haskamp, grew up in Reading.

After his ordination in 1950, he served as assistant pastor at St. Agnes, St. Francis DeSales and St. Vivian churches in Greater Cincinnati, while teaching Latin and math at Purcell.

While in Kettering, he was assistant pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Church.

Father Haskamp was superintendent of Northern Schools in St. Patrick, Ohio, and pastor for parishes in Tipp City, Dayton and Greenville.

In 1982, he oversaw the building of a new church for Queen of Martyrs Parish in Dayton.

He celebrated his Golden Anniversary at Holy Trinity Church and SS. Peter & Paul Church in Reading, where he was baptized and confirmed, and said his first Mass.

Since his retirement in 1999, he assisted at Holy Trinity Church in Norwood, St. Columban in Loveland and St. Francis DeSales in Lebanon.

In addition to his brother Charles, survivors include two other brothers, Chick Haskamp of Bevis and Pete Haskamp of Golf Manor; and four sisters, Lorie Steltenpohl of Fayetteville, Ohio, Ruth Link of Hookset, N.H., Joy Gavin of Delhi Township and Caryl Woycke of West Chester.

Reception of the body is 9 a.m. today with visitation until Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 W. Eighth St., downtown. Burial is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery.

Memorials: Priests Retirement Fund, 100 E. Eighth St., Cincinnati 45202.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com