Rev. Thomas J. Vail, 92

Rev. Thomas J. Vail died at the age of 92 on April 22.

Father Vail was born Jan. 21, 1927, in Little Falls, son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Maurice and Hazel (Chadwick) Vail. He attended St. Mary’s Academy in Little Falls, where he graduated in 1943. ­After eight years of study at St. ­Andrew’s Seminary in Rochester and St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, Father Vail was ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 1951 by Bishop Edmund Gibbons at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in?Albany. 

After a year as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in Glovers­ville, Father Vail was selected to serve as professor at the new Mater Christi Seminary in?Albany. After two years of study in?Rome,?where he did further studies in Latin and Greek at the Gregorian University and the University of?Rome, Father Vail returned to teach for 15 years at Mater Christi Seminary. 

When Bishop Edmund Broderick was installed as the new Bishop of the Albany Diocese in May of 1969, Father Vail was appointed his secretary and assistant Vicar General of the Diocese. He served in that office until 1973 when he was appointed Pastor of St. Gabriel’s Parish in?Rotterdam. He served there until March of 1984 when he was named Pastor of St. Peter’s Church in?Saratoga Springs. In January of 1993, Father Vail retired and moved to his family home in Little Falls where he has served in many parishes within the region.

He is survived by his brother, Maurice Vail, of Bay Village, Ohio; his sisters, Sr. Kathleen Vail, C.S.J., of Latham and Joan Vogt, of Little Falls; and his brother-in-law, William Gressler, of Little Falls. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Richard Vail; his sister, Kathleen Gressler; sister-in-law, Mary Vail; and brother-in-law, Edwin Vogt.

A Funeral Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at the Holy Family Parish Church in Little Falls on April 27. Donations can be made in the of Father Thomas Vail to the Holy Family Parish in Little Falls.