Father Stanley T. Nakowicz was laid to rest this week. He was a priest of the Diocese of Providence for 45 years.
Over those four decades he served as a parish priest, high school teacher and administrator and camp director. But for 16 years he also served as the executive editor of The Providence Visitor. As such he helped to revitalize and professionalize the weekly diocesan newspaper, expanding its coverage to include international and national events far beyond the borders of Rhode Island.
Father Nakowicz at times may have had the gruff exterior of Clark Kent’s editor, Perry White, but he possessed a very generous heart. This generosity was witnessed in his steadfast dedication to ensure that the Visitor shared with its readers the many charitable works of the church and also called for the financial support of the Visitor’s many readers of these good works. Whether it was a story on AIDS Ministry or the St. Nicholas Fund at Assumption Church in Providence, Father Nakowicz was always a steady and valiant champion of all of God’s children in the pages of the newspaper. May he obtain the reward of his goodness in the Kingdom of Heaven.
