Rev. Thomas Pisors, CSV

This physics laboratory is surrounded by a series of fully-stocked cabinets. School officials had them built in order to accommodate all of the physics equipment donated to his classroom/laboratory by former students; innumerable students of Fr. Pisors followed his inspiration and have gone on to pursue  careers in science.

“You challenged me to be more analytical and detail- oriented, and you helped create a desire within me for lifelong learning,” wrote Bridget Lavin, a former student who is now pursuing a Ph.D. in health-systems management.

Fr. Pisors died on April 25, 2009, at the age of 76. His brother, Fr. John Pisors, CSV, who has been stationed in Colombia for the past forty-two years, preached at his funeral mass.  In his homily, he spoke of his brother’s deep faith: “Tom is happy today, and at peace.  In fact, I could say that he was longing for it anxiously.  His waiting and longing for death was a healthy desire to be with the Lord.”

Yet, even before his death, heartfelt notes of gratitude were mailed to Fr. Pisors, once the news of his terminal cancer became known. “You challenged me, yet encouraged me,” wrote Bill von Behren, now a lawyer in Los Angeles. “You brought out talents and intellect that I never knew I had.” 

Fr. Pisors began his secondary education at Fournier Institute in Lemont, IL, with the intent of becoming an electrical engineer. However, after graduation, he entered the Viatorian novitiate and pronounced his first vows in 1952; he was ordained a priest in 1961.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Master of Arts degree in physics from Northwestern University in Evanston; in addition, he spent countless summers taking post-graduate courses at an astounding fifteen universities.

Fr. Pisors began teaching mathematics and physics at Griffin High School, in Springfield, IL, in 1962.  He continued teaching after the school merged, in 1988, with Sacred Heart Academy, a high school administered by the Springfield Dominican Sisters.  He retired from Sacred-Heart Griffin High School in 2006.

Sr. Kathleen Ann Tait, OP, who served as principal of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, brought Fr. Pisors and his physics equipment over to her school from the former Griffin High School. She laughs at the thought of having to build all of those cabinets, especially because they held only donated equipment. Fr. Pisors left behind all of his older equipment at the former Griffin High School when he moved down the block to the new building of Sacred Heart-Griffin. “He was the consummate teacher,” she says. “He set high expectations for his students and never wavered from them. People still tell me he was the best teacher they ever had.”

Members of the Viatorian Community remembered him not only as a scholar and a teacher, but also as someone who was dedicated to the Scriptures and religious life. They remembered and reflected on the many ways that his presence had been felt from the subtlety of a prayer or a thoughtful note to the strength of his dedication to God, family, students, staff, and to Catholic high school education.  Members of the Viatorian Community remarked that what really stood out, however, in the life of Fr. Thomas Pisors, was not only the “work” he did but rather the pastoral care and presence with which he lived. His deep faith and the grace with which he addressed those in his life and the things of life are the lessons he taught to the very end.    

“He was deeply committed to the spiritual life,” said Fr. Robert Erickson, CSV, “and utterly faithful to the end.”

Fr. Thomas von Behren, CSV, who lived with him both in Springfield, and again at the province center in Arlington Heights, mentioned that the entire community misses his prayerful manner. “We will miss his quiet and gentle presence,” Fr. von Behren said, “that reminded all of us to be men of prayer and to strive for excellence in ministry.”

For his part, Fr. Thomas Pisors accepted his passing gracefully.  “I'm kind of' getting used to the idea of beginning the next life before very long, and am rather anxious to try it out,” he wrote to his many supporters. “I have nothing but gratitude for the life God gave me, especially in Springfield, so I'm sure I can trust Him for the rest of eternity.”

Forever the educator, Fr. Thomas Pisors’ lessons remain for us all.  Lessons of work and prayer, lessons of living and dying, and lessons of faith, hope, and love. 

We will miss him.