The Rev. Father Alessandro Di Taddeo, a former priest of the Diocese of Laredo, died at the age of 91 last week in Chicago.
A native of Italy ordained in the Oblate order, Rev. Father Taddeo served as pastor of the parish of Mother Cabrini Church in West Laredo in the 1980s and 1990s.
He served as a diocesan priest at San José Church in South Laredo and at Blessed Sacrament Church.
Father Taddeo was the retired priest in residence at St. Patrick’s Parish.
“He retired as a full colonel in the U.S. Army,” fellow priest Francisco Stodola noted. Stodola is also a retired Army chaplain.
An avid runner, Father Di Taddeo endeared himself to the Laredo running community by participating in several 5K and 10K races, even at the age of 70-plus years. He was a regular at the annual Hamilton Jewelry and Trophies Guajolote 10K Run on Thanksgiving Day.
“He was winning races when he was in his 60s,” said Father Stodola, who visited Father Di Taddeo in Chicago. “He took long walks all around,” Stodola recalled. “He stayed in shape.”
Gloria Sanchez, whose family started the Guajolote Run 40 years ago, has fond memories of Di Taddeo. “For more than 10 years he opened our race with a prayer. Right after the prayer, he was off running.’’
At 5’6” and weighing no more than 130 pounds, Father Di Taddeo was visible on many early mornings as he jogged daily from Mother Cabrini Church to the old Riverdrive Mall.
Bishop James A. Tamayo acknowledged Di Taddeo’s death in a written statement that offered prayers for Di Taddeo’s family and the repose of Father Taddeo’s soul.
Private funeral services were held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill. on Thursday, May 14. A memorial mass will be offered at St. Francis Borgia Church at a later date.
