Thomas, David

David L. Thomas, SJ,  teacher and pastoral minister in Jesuit high schools and parishes in the Pacific Northwest, died June 22, 2021 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos. He was 82 years old and a member of the Jesuit Order for 63 years.

David was born in Spokane, Washington, March 9, 1939, the son of Joseph L. Thomas and Lillian Hunter Thomas. He graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in 1957. Two years later, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Sheridan, Oregon. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Gonzaga University and a M.Div. from Regis College, Toronto.

David taught Latin, history, speech, and religion at Loyola High School, Missoula, MT, 1964-1968. After his theological training in Toronto in 1971, he returned to the classroom. Assigned to Seattle Preparatory School / Mateo Ricci College, Seattle, he devoted 35 years to Jesuit education, both as a teacher and administrator. Primarily a teacher of history, he also taught photography for many years and later served as Vice President of Plant , dean of students, and administrator of the Jesuit community, 1997-2006.

He served as Pastoral Associate at St. Francis Xavier, Church, Missoula, 2006-2014, where his ministry focused on the aged in retirement homes and health care facilities and to the home-bound of the area, bringing sacraments and companionship. He later did the same ministry at the Jesuit residence in Spokane, 2014-2018. He was also an excellent musician and repaired church organs and other instruments. He retired to a ministry of prayer at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in 2018.

David is survived by his brothers, J. Richard (Dick) Thomas and Daniel F. Thomas, Sister-n-law, Sharon Thomas, nieces Sue and Lori Thomas, Judy Arsenault and Debbie Lee, nephews David, Bill, and Gary Thomas, all of Spokane. He was predeceased by a brother, James.

Funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 16, 10 a.m. St. Aloysius Church, 330 E. Boone Avenue, Spokane. The funeral will also be livestreamed at https://stalschurch.org/mass-livestream/