Deceased Correctional Chaplains
Updated 8/30/2018
Please inform Rev. Ulli Klemm uklemm@pa.gov of any additions to this list)
Ressetar, Fr. Daniel, Age 93
Died January 20, 2021
Served as the Chaplain at Dauphin County Jail, 1979-1985
Ibrahim, Imam Tanko, Age 69
Died January 16, 2021
Served as a Facility Chaplain at SCI Greene
Abuomar, Imam Mustafa M., Age 62
Died January 13, 2020
Served as a Facility Chaplain at SCI Coal Township
Michlin, Rabbi Michael, Age 73
Died November 16, 2020
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCIs Dallas, Frackville and Mahanoy
Leavens, William “Bill”, Age 62
Died July 30, 2019
Serve as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Camp Hill
Lynch, Fr. Leo A., Age 67
Died January 16, 2020
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Smithfield
Menei, Rev. Francis T., Age 80
Died June 6, 2019
Served as the Chaplain of the Philadelphia Prison System 1980-1987; the Facility Chaplaincy Program Director at SCI Graterford 1987-1992; and as the Director of Family and Religious Services, PA DOC 1992-2002
Murcko, Rev. Monsignor Charles Simon, Age 94
Died March 06, 2018
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Mercer
Neiderhiser, Rev. Edward, Age 71
Died April 17, 2019
Served as the Facility Chaplain, SCI Graterford, 1989-1992 and as the
Facility Chaplaincy Program Director at SCI Graterford 1992-2015
Smith, Rev. John Edward, Age 72
Died October 4, 2019
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Forest
Welker, Rev. Dixie Rose, Age 75
Died March 30, 2019
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Cambridge Springs
O’Neill, Fr. Daniel J., Age 68
Died October 29, 2018
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Laurel Highlands and SCI Somerset
Pettit, Pastor David A. , 57
October 2, 1960 to March 27, 2018
Former contracted chaplain through Jubilee Ministries at SCI Frackville
Rev. Monsignor Charles Simon Murcko,
June 01, 1924 - March 06, 2018
Former Contracted Chaplain at SCI Mercer
Otto, Rev. Charles Joseph, Age 77
Died March 10, 2017 Exodus Prison and Aftercare Ministry
Hale, Lydia E., Age 81
Died November 13, 2016
Served as a Native American contracted Chaplain at SCIs: Albion, Greene, Greensburg, Fayette, Laurel Highlands, Mercer, Pittsburgh and Somerset; was a Native American Advisor at the Allegheny County Jail and served on the PA Dept. of Corrections Religious Accommodation Review Committee.
McQueen, Deacon Harvey, Age 69
Died March 26, 2016
Served as a Catholic Chaplain at SCI Cambridge Springs
Bradley, Rev. Valentine J., Age 66
Died March 11, 2016
Served as a Catholic Chaplain at SCI Rockview
Yaszcz, The Rev. Thomas Anthony, Age 65
Died January 2, 2015
Served as a contracted Catholic Chaplain at SCI Retreat
Pounder, Rev. Sadie Cantone, Age 68
Died October 25, 2014
Served as a contracted Protestant Chaplain at SCI Camp Hill
Brooks, Rev. Keith, Age 90
Died June 13 2014
Served as a faithful volunteer at the Chester County Prison and was editor of the PPCA newsletter for many years
O’Leary, Rev. Fr. Barry Paul, Age 65
Died June 6, 2014
Served as a contracted Catholic Chaplain at SCI Pittsburgh
Taffe, Chief Michael R., Age 56
Died April 19, 2014
Served as a as a contracted Native American Chaplain at SCI Dallas, SCI Retreat and SCI Waymart
Peterson, Monsignor James W., Age 89
Died May 13, 2013
Served as a contracted Catholic Chaplain at SCI Albion and led retreats at SCI Rockview and SCI Forest
Nelson, Rev. John G., Age 75
Died May 19, 2010
Served as the Chaplain at the Warren County Prison
Drummond, Rev. Shawn
Served as a Protestant Chaplain at the Allegheny County Jail
Please inform Rev. Ulli Klemm uklemm@pa.gov of any additions to this list)
Ressetar, Fr. Daniel, Age 93
Died January 20, 2021
Served as the Chaplain at Dauphin County Jail, 1979-1985
Ibrahim, Imam Tanko, Age 69
Died January 16, 2021
Served as a Facility Chaplain at SCI Greene
Abuomar, Imam Mustafa M., Age 62
Died January 13, 2020
Served as a Facility Chaplain at SCI Coal Township
Michlin, Rabbi Michael, Age 73
Died November 16, 2020
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCIs Dallas, Frackville and Mahanoy
Leavens, William “Bill”, Age 62
Died July 30, 2019
Serve as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Camp Hill
Lynch, Fr. Leo A., Age 67
Died January 16, 2020
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Smithfield
Menei, Rev. Francis T., Age 80
Died June 6, 2019
Served as the Chaplain of the Philadelphia Prison System 1980-1987; the Facility Chaplaincy Program Director at SCI Graterford 1987-1992; and as the Director of Family and Religious Services, PA DOC 1992-2002
Murcko, Rev. Monsignor Charles Simon, Age 94
Died March 06, 2018
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Mercer
Neiderhiser, Rev. Edward, Age 71
Died April 17, 2019
Served as the Facility Chaplain, SCI Graterford, 1989-1992 and as the
Facility Chaplaincy Program Director at SCI Graterford 1992-2015
Smith, Rev. John Edward, Age 72
Died October 4, 2019
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Forest
Welker, Rev. Dixie Rose, Age 75
Died March 30, 2019
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Cambridge Springs
O’Neill, Fr. Daniel J., Age 68
Died October 29, 2018
Served as a Contracted Chaplain at SCI Laurel Highlands and SCI Somerset
Pettit, Pastor David A. , 57
October 2, 1960 to March 27, 2018
Former contracted chaplain through Jubilee Ministries at SCI Frackville
Rev. Monsignor Charles Simon Murcko,
June 01, 1924 - March 06, 2018
Former Contracted Chaplain at SCI Mercer
Otto, Rev. Charles Joseph, Age 77
Died March 10, 2017 Exodus Prison and Aftercare Ministry
Hale, Lydia E., Age 81
Died November 13, 2016
Served as a Native American contracted Chaplain at SCIs: Albion, Greene, Greensburg, Fayette, Laurel Highlands, Mercer, Pittsburgh and Somerset; was a Native American Advisor at the Allegheny County Jail and served on the PA Dept. of Corrections Religious Accommodation Review Committee.
McQueen, Deacon Harvey, Age 69
Died March 26, 2016
Served as a Catholic Chaplain at SCI Cambridge Springs
Bradley, Rev. Valentine J., Age 66
Died March 11, 2016
Served as a Catholic Chaplain at SCI Rockview
Yaszcz, The Rev. Thomas Anthony, Age 65
Died January 2, 2015
Served as a contracted Catholic Chaplain at SCI Retreat
Pounder, Rev. Sadie Cantone, Age 68
Died October 25, 2014
Served as a contracted Protestant Chaplain at SCI Camp Hill
Brooks, Rev. Keith, Age 90
Died June 13 2014
Served as a faithful volunteer at the Chester County Prison and was editor of the PPCA newsletter for many years
O’Leary, Rev. Fr. Barry Paul, Age 65
Died June 6, 2014
Served as a contracted Catholic Chaplain at SCI Pittsburgh
Taffe, Chief Michael R., Age 56
Died April 19, 2014
Served as a as a contracted Native American Chaplain at SCI Dallas, SCI Retreat and SCI Waymart
Peterson, Monsignor James W., Age 89
Died May 13, 2013
Served as a contracted Catholic Chaplain at SCI Albion and led retreats at SCI Rockview and SCI Forest
Nelson, Rev. John G., Age 75
Died May 19, 2010
Served as the Chaplain at the Warren County Prison
Drummond, Rev. Shawn
Served as a Protestant Chaplain at the Allegheny County Jail
