Dr. David Pietropaoli

David Pietropaoli, also known as “Pietro, Smoke, Padge, and Dr. P” was born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 18th, 1953. He was the second son of Joseph F. Pietropaoli and Rose R. Pietropaoli. His brother, Joseph Pietropaoli, is their first son and lives with his wife, Paulette in Baltimore, Maryland. Pursing a personal call to the priesthood, he became a priest of the Baltimore Archdiocese. But after 20 years, he realized that the desire for a spouse and married life never left him. After much internal contemplation and prayer, he pursued dispensation from the priesthood under Pope Benedict the XVI and was laicized in 2008. In 2012, he met Colette E. Rohan of Frederick, Maryland and after a period of courtship, she became his wife, Colette E. Pietropaoli, on October 10th, 2015. They had almost 11 years together.

He is survived by Colette, his wife; Joseph, his brother and Paulette, Joe’s wife and their adult children, Stacy, Joey and Jena. He is survived by his niece, Stacy and her husband, JP and their daughter Charlotte; his nephew, Joey and his fiancée, Savanah; and his niece, Jena and her fiancée, Tyler. He is also survived by his two daughters-in-law, Sarah T. Ness and her husband, Michael Howell and their little children, Elliot and Cassidy Howell; and his other daughter-in-law, Alice M. Ness and her fiancée, Brandon Grimes and Brandon’s daughter, Lila Grimes.

David attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute High School in Maryland and graduated in 1971. He played baseball and loved the sport. Through the encouragement and coaching of his father, David became a formidable pitcher and his knick-name was “Smoke” since his fast ball was outstanding! He played during a time when there were no radar guns, so the speed of his pitch is known only to God; however, “Smoke” could really bring ‘em. David received his bachelor's degree in Science from UMBC in 1975 and also played baseball for the college where he admitted that the scouts were looking at him. However, he was told that he was a “suspect” not a “prospect” and never became a professional ball player as he had hoped. He taught at Little Flower Catholic School for a few years until he discerned a calling for the priesthood and entered the seminary in 1978, studying in Rome, Italy at the Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana for five years. He developed lifetime friendships with his fellow seminarians while there, and maintain friendships with many of them – both those who became priests and those who did not. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Baccalaureum in Theologia in 1981 and Magna Cum Laude with a Licentiatum in Spec. Theologia Dogmatica in 1983. During his studies in Rome, he was a top student and admirer of the famed Latinist, Father Reginald Foster, priest and friar of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, and, at the time, Chief Latinist of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. He loved that Father Foster came from humble beginnings – a son of a plumber from Wisconsin – and felt that he, David - a son of a blue-collar man from Baltimore - shared that commonality.

David was ordained a priest of the Baltimore Archdiocese in 1984, and served at several parishes beginning with St. Ursula Catholic Church in Parkville, Md; then St. Michael Catholic Church in Overlea, and lastly, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Westminster, Md. As associate pastor at both St. Michael’s and St. John’s, he led the young adult education program and was a pastor and mentor to many young Catholics, leading them in the faith and taking them on various youth group outings with the help of many parish volunteers. During his seminary years in Rome, he also led a group of young Italians in the formation of their faith and guided them in developing their character. He took them on several outings throughout Italy. He connected so personally with all his young adults, both here in the U.S. and in Italy and would recount many wonderful times he had with them. He treasured their friendships and memories throughout his life.

He also served as chaplain to the Knights of Columbus while at St. John the Evangelist Parish and taught Systematics (Theology) to the seminarians at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. He went back to the Gregorian University in 1994 to pursue his doctoral studies and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctorem in Sacra Theologia in 1997. His published dissertation: "Visible Ecclesial Communion: Authority and Primacy in the Conciliar Church"

David had a beautiful heart and soul with no guile or pretense. He was an innocent and honest man who was entirely straightforward and incapable of deceit. He always saw the beauty and goodness of a person and rarely ever, any faults. He believed that truly knowing a person is to see them as God sees them - a beloved son or daughter of the Heavenly Father. David’s soul was childlike and he completely trusted in God’s tender care and love, and in His merciful forgiveness. David had a pure and manly innocence that was based on noble, Christian virtue. He honored the cowboy’s steadfast commitment to his herd, the father’s hard-working sacrifice for his wife and children, and the soldier’s commitment to his fellow brother in arms – to have his brother’s back at all times and never leave him behind. To David, character was destiny and those who did not work toward Christian virtue in developing their character would put themselves at a disadvantage in life and before the Lord.

David was dedicated and loved his family, both here in the United States and his famiglia in Italia. He loved his brother, Joe, with a tender concern and care for him. Even as a little boy, he was very concerned for his brother, Joe, when Father Metzger, the family priest advised young David that he was taking his older brother, Joe into the “bowels of the earth” (on a youth outing.) David’s little heart was most anxious and he cried to his mother that his brother was going to be killed by “that guy.” But later and for the reminder of David’s life, Father Metzger became as a second father to him. David was devoted and loved both his father and mother. Having lost his father, Joseph, to lung cancer early in his priesthood, David stepped up to the challenge of caring for and loving his widowed mother, Rose, until the day she died. He spoke often of the wonderful times he spent with his family in Greensburg, PA where his Italian grandfather & grandmother lived. Both sets of David’s grandparents were born in Italy and migrated to the United States. He remembered with great joy, the family get-togethers at his grandparents’ home in Greensburg, their wonderful accents and Italian ways, and their devotion to God and each other. He greatly admired their tenacity through adversity that while not being literate, still learned the language and embraced the culture of their new-found home in America. He remembered fondly, all the relatives who attended these family gatherings and their love for each other. Later, when in Rome, he connected with his family in Italy whom he treasured with great love and devotion. He formed lasting relationships with them, which he shared with me. He included me into his family and they, too are my family now, together with the family in Baltimore and Greensburg, PA (and other parts of the United States.) His love knew no limits! Also, David formed early in life, long-lasting relationships with his child-hood buddies, Bob “Gorsk”, Bob “Cooz” and Bill “Malt.” His friendships with them were vastly important to him and he held them close in his heart. They helped him grow to maturity in love and while they were his brothers from different parentage, they none-the-less were and are his brothers. They all remained close to this day!

David touched so many lives as both a priest, teacher and mentor. To his parishioners and young adults, he was the bright light and effervescent, Father Dave (“Padge”). Always bringing humor as well as profound theology to their hearts, minds and souls. For many of his students, he was an advocate, a guiding spiritual light, and grounding “compass” helping to shape their character. And for some students, he was a father-figure whom they profoundly needed in a most challenging and difficult world. He taught at Little Flower, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Calvert School, Gilman School, Archbishop Curly High School, Stevenson University, McDaniel’s College, and Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. His last teaching position was as a Latin Teacher for the students of Frederick Classical Charter School in Frederick, Md. His colleagues will never forget his daily smiles, his welcoming and agreeable countenance and his pop-and-point “Roman” handshakes, a favorite with his students as well. He loved his students and wanted to know each personally, to hear about their lives, their interests, their families and friends and what made them happy or sad. And his students trusted him to share their joys and fears because they intrinsically knew he was honorable and a teacher who really cared about them. While he could be musing and entertaining, he would also put himself and his teaching career on the line to establish truths that could not be denied. He once, in a faculty meeting at a school in Baltimore, had to interject a stark reality to his fellow teachers who were convinced that the most important attribute they could impart to their students was the ability to become formidable and influential public speakers. While an admirable quest, David had to remind them that building the students’ character was vastly more important, and that dictators and oligarchs were also formidable and influential public speakers.

As a husband and friend, he was my beloved and I was his! He knew the true meaning of marriage and integral love – that marriage is an icon of the integral love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He shared his heart, his life and soul with me, and his devotion to me was beautiful and pure. He also knew that for us to remain in love, he and I needed to share a love and devotion for the Transcendent Third – Jesus, Our Lord - as He has for us both. David and I had this love in our marriage and more. In fact, I find great comfort that even though he is on the other side with Our Lord, we still share that same love of the Transcendent Third – David from eternity and me from earth & time. Even in this present moment, our shared love of Our Lord keeps us forever connected through His Most Loving and Merciful Heart.