The sad news arrived early this morning and was posted immediately on the Erie Times-News Web site (GoErie.com): Father Tex Hilbert is dead.

Hilbert, a 72-year-old Roman Catholic priest, was one of the best-known people in town. He'd been a college professor, a parish priest, a pastor, a social activist and the leader of a dozen causes. Every time I'd bump into him, Hilbert would say: "Don't you think it's time for you to make the Cursillo?" It was the Catholic weekend retreat experience that had enhanced the spiritual lives of so many Erie men and women. But, for me, it was something I'd have to work my way up to, and I still haven't quite made the decision to do it.

I first met Hilbert when I was an 11-year-old altar boy at St. John the Baptist Church. At one of the first Masses I served, I got on the wrong side of Hilbert as he prepared to dispense communion to parishioners kneeling at the rail. He leaned over and whispered, "You're standing on the wrong side." When I didn't move quickly enough to the other side, he simply reached down, grabbed me by the back of the collar, and hoisted me to the other side.

Hilbert was a physically imposing man, especially in those days, when he was fresh out of the seminary. He was a gentle giant, though, with a calm voice and a reassuring manner. I think it's how so many people in trouble -- people who needed a room, food, or help for their families -- came to rely on him.

Hilbert devoted most of his career to working for peace and justice. The son of a respected Erie policeman, he took his father's nickname, "Tex," after he died.

I always thought his greatest skill was his ability to connect with people. He had a good sense of humor and could kid with almost everyone, but in relating to people he was never heavy handed. Let me amend that; he wasn't heavy handed unless he felt you were jerking him or the people he represented around.

Just a couple weeks ago, he called me from the hospital where he'd had knee-replacement surgery. He sounded cheery and wanted to make sure a young high school athlete he knew would receive fair treatment in our sports section.

That was Fr. Tex -- always looking out for a friend. And he sure had a lot of them.

-- Kevin Cuneo

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