Gerald F. Flater

Rev. Gerald "Gerry" Fitzgerald Flater, 89, died on April 23, 2020, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He was a son of the late Albert and Geraldine (Fitzgerald) Flater. He was predeceased by three brothers, Robert, Albert and Harold and two sisters, Gertrude Flater and Carol Heald.
Fr. Flater was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, where he completed his early education. He attended Boston College High School and Holy Angels Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree from Oblate College in Washington, DC, followed by degrees in Sacred Theology and Sociology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He became a member of the National Social Science Honor Society (Pi Gamma Mu) in 1959.
Fr. Flater entered the Ipswich, Massachusetts, novitiate in 1951 and professed his first vows as a Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on September 8, 1952. His final vows were professed on September 8, 1955, in Essex, New York. On June 8, 1957, he was Ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop John M. McNamara, auxiliary bishop of Washington, DC.
Fr. Flater's first assignment was to St. Paul Parish, Douglas, Georgia. Over the years, he served as pastor at Holy Family Parish, Petersburg, Virginia; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sacred Heart Parish, Lowell, Massachusetts; St. William Parish, Tewksbury and as Associate Pastor for a short time at a parish in Puerto Rico. While in Grand Rapids, he was the Family/Life Director for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
In the early 1960s, Fr. Flater ministered in the Propagation of the Faith for the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, followed by a stint as Treasurer at the Oblate Foreign Mission House there. He was the Assistant Provincial Treasurer from 1972 to 1975, and then served as Provincial Treasurer from 1983 to 1995. In 1986, he joined the community at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury. In 1989, Fr. Flater became involved in preaching ministry and was a gifted preacher. He continued preaching various missions and retreats until 2015. He remained with the Oblate community in Tewksbury through retirement and until his death.
From 1977 to 1994, Fr. Flater also held many other church positions. He was on the Presbyteral Council for the Archdiocese of Boston, was a member of the Priest Senate, then the Diocesan School Board in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was a member of the Synod Subcommittee on the Clergy for the Archdiocese of Boston. He was President of the Petersburg, Virginia, Council on Human Relations and later President of the Madison, Florida, Lions Club. He was also a member of the Fr. Francis Coppens Council #4336 of the Tewksbury Knights of Columbus.
Fr. Flater was a kind and humble man who, on the occasion of his 65th Anniversary of First Vows, chose the words of Pope Benedict XVI to sum up his years as a priest by declaring, "My heart is full of gratitude."
In addition to his Oblate family, Fr. Flater is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, funeral services will be private.
Donations in memory of Fr. Flater may be made to the Oblate Infirmary Fund, 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876.