Fr. Alan Syslo, CSV, a member of the Viatorian Community for 66 years, died Jan. 7, 2024 at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, IL. He was 84. He was born Oct. 3, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Frank and Anna Maria (Guiliani) Syslo. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Gary.
Fr. Syslo pronounced his first vows Sept. 8, 1958 and was ordained a priest June 4, 1966. He was a graduate of St. Philip High School in Chicago, and went on to earn a B.A. in Accounting from Loyola University, Chicago, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Catholic University of America, a Master of Management from Illinois State University and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University.
At the start of his ministry, Fr. Syslo held teaching positions at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights and at Spalding Institute in Peoria before serving as Parochial Vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Morgan City, LA.
In 1979, Fr. Syslo moved to Las Vegas, where he briefly served as a Campus Minister at UNLV and as Parochial Vicar at Guardian Angel Cathedral. After a sabbatical, Fr. Syslo moved to Monterey, CA, where he served as Chaplain for the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio, Board Chairman for the Monterey County AIDS Project, Director of John XXIII AIDS Ministry and finally as a Social Worker for the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic. For the next three years (2005-2008), Fr. Syslo volunteered with HIV/AIDS, pet therapy and local churches in Palm Springs, CA before returning to the Las Vegas area.
Back in Las Vegas, his final assignment was as Associate Pastor at St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV, until 2019, before he retired to the Viatorians Province Center in Arlington Heights.
Visitation for Fr. Syslo will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Province Center, before a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.