The Mitred Archpriest Daniel Dimitri Ressetar reposed in the Lord on January 20, 2021 at UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic Hospital, Lower Paxton Twp. He would have turned 94 on March 27th.
Born in Edwardsville, PA to Mitred Archpriest Dimitri J. and Matushka Margaret (Tomcho) Ressetar, he graduated from Lincoln High School in Jersey City, NJ, Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA in 1948 (where he directed the choir) and Lafayette College in 1951 where he won the Greek language prize.
Father Dan became choir director at Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church in Cleveland, OH, where he married the priest’s daughter Matushka Theodora V. Prislopsky in 1958, who survives him. After ordination, his first parish was Holy Trinity Church in McAdoo, PA and then he served as an Air Force chaplain in San Antonio, TX for three years, retiring later as Lt. Col. In 1965 he was assigned to the new parish of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Harrisburg where he faithfully served for over 55 years, retiring at age 80; he was pastor emeritus. He received many high priestly honors, including the St. Innocent Award (silver), the first Chaplain’s Cross presented by Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America, and finally the mitre, the highest honor bestowed upon a married priest in the Orthodox Church.
Father Dan’s accomplishments are too many to mention: Pan-Orthodox Choir conductor; oldest active Civil Air Patrol chaplain in the country; Veteran’s Hospital chaplain; dean of the local deanery; national spiritual advisor of FOCA and Central PA District advisor for over 30 years; Vietnam Vet’s chaplain; he marched in the annual Veteran’s Day parade in NYC; Dauphin County Prison chaplain; the annual March for Life, and much more. He also enjoyed sports, especially baseball and football, and followed the Harrisburg Senators and other teams. He was a music lover as well, conducting choirs, singing, playing the piano, and attending Harrisburg Symphony concerts. And Father Dan participated in the canonization services for his uncle, Saint Maksym Sandowicz, the great martyr of the Carpatho-Rusyn people, in modern-day Poland in 1994.
Preceded in death by his parents and brother Prof. John (late Caroline), he is also survived by three sons: Nicholas, Gregory (wife Candi) and Alexander; grandchildren Dimitri and Sophia; his sisters, Vera Bortniak (late Stephen) and Anne Boyko (late Wasil); and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service for a Priest will be held in Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Lower Paxton Twp. at the convenience of the Clergy and family with His Eminence Archbishop Mark, Archbishop of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania officiating, along with other Orthodox Clergy. Private burial will be in Saint Tikhon Orthodox Cemetery, Waymart, PA. A walk-through public viewing will be held on Sunday, January 24, 2021 from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm in Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, 5501 Old Locust Lane, Lower Paxton Twp. Funeral Services will be webcast through https://www.ctshbg.org/ Current Covid-19 restrictions will be enforced. Face masks and social distancing are required. Arrangements are being handled by Wiedeman Funeral Home & Crematon Services, Oberlin. The family offers special thanks to Dr. Milena Pilipovic for her kind assistance and care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Monastery, 175 St. Tikhon’s Rd., Waymart, PA 18472.
View a video in honor of Father Daniel
May Father Daniel’s memory be eternal!