Father James Schleicher, longtime pastor of St. Francis de Sales, passed away Feb. 23 after a long bout with kidney disease. He had been on kidney dialysis three times a week for the last four years.
Schleicher was born in 1929 in Chicago, where he began his seminary work at the age of 13. He continued it when the family moved to New York, and then in Cleveland, where he was ordained in 1954. His first assignment was at St. Mary's in Akron, followed by St. Bernard's, St. Bartholomew's in Cleveland and St Sebastian's. In 1974 he came to St. Francis where he remained as pastor for 34 years until his retirement in 2008. He stayed on at the parish as pastor emeritus after his retirement.
He was totally committed to the priesthood and the good of his church. He worked hard to bring converts into the church and encourage vocations to the religious life. On the Sunday prior to his death he was able to give his last sermon at the 9 a.m. mass at the church. His homily was one of reconciliation and God’s will to forgive a person no matter who they are or what they have done.
In addition to his love of the church he was also enjoyed sports and was an excellent baseball and basketball player and loved golf. He use to joke at mass just before his vacation that he was going to do his annual missionary work among the caddies in Florida.
He loved animals and it was a common sight around the parish to see him walking his black labs, both named Patti.
He also enjoyed singing to himself, or those around him. He was partial toward Jo Stafford and Vaughn Monroe.
"He was a model for priests,” said Father David Bline, Schleicher’s successor. “He was so authentic in his love of Jesus, he wanted him so much. He taught me that priests must suffer doing the work of God. Many times he would go out despite being in pain from his dialysis treatment to help people of the parish.”
Father Anthony Suso, the newly ordained associate, only knew Schleicher since last summer.
"He loved to celebrate Mass,” said Suso. “Often he would go in to the rectory chapel and celebrate it by himself when he was no longer able to celebrate it at the church. If one of us was around he would ask us to join him. I remember him saying to just ‘give God 10 minutes a day’."
Daniel Syvanych, a University of Akron student, came to him for confession. "He was a good confessor,” said Daniel Syvanych, a University of Akron student. “He gave me a lot of good advice over the years. I will miss him."
"Father Schleicher got me enamored with serving in the fift grade,” said Molly Thomas, a senior at Green High who was a long time server and Eucharistic Minister.
She said Schleicher was a great man who made me feel special.
“I want to serve at his funeral mass so I can serve him one last time."
Thomas got her wish. She served at the funeral.
"He was like a father to me,” said Dr. Stephen Stone. “When I got confused, he unconfused me. I am both happy and sad at his passing - happy that he is no longer suffering and in Heaven, but sad to lose him. He protected the church fiercely."
"I was glad to have served with him all that time,” Mike Oravec, an adult server for funeral masses said. “He was a good pastor and I am thankful he was here for all those years."
Usher Al Fortine observed "Father Schleicher was totally dedicated to the parish, a great manager,” said Al Fortine, an usher. ”He loved music and his favorite song was "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel. He was also a great comfort to my wife when she found out she had MS. He talked with her and helped her accept her situation."
Following a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis Father Schleicher was interned at Holy Cross cemetery in Cleveland. He requested that anyone wishing to make a donation in memory make it to his favorite charities, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic Faith Formations, or the Father James Schleicher Seminar Scholarship, all at St. Francis.
