Father Alfred L. Grotzinger, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died on Sunday, July 30, after a long illness. He was 87 years old.

Father Alfred was born on July 5, 1913, in St. Marys, Pa., the son of the late Edward and Caroline (Gregory) Grotzinger, and was one of nine children. He attended Saint Mary’s Parochial School in St. Marys and Saint Vincent Preparatory School. He also attended Saint Vincent College and Seminary.

He entered the Saint Vincent Monastic Community in 1934 and made simple profession of vows on July 2, 1935, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1938. He was ordained a priest on June 15, 1941.

Father Alfred worked in several educational and pastoral apostolates. He was on the faculty of the James Barry-Robinson School and Home for Boys in Norfolk, Va., from 1941 to 1942, and was assigned to several parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Dioceses of Greensburg, Richmond, and Erie. He served as pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Ligonier, Pa., from 1955 to 1967; of Saint Gregory the Great Church in Virginia Beach, Va., from 1967 to 1971; and of Saint Mary Church in Erie, Pa., from 1981 to 1989. In 1990 he retired to Saint Vincent Archabbey for reasons of health, and there he served as Coordinator of Monastery Maintenance until his death.

Father Alfred served on the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors from 1956 to 1964 and was secretary from 1962 to 1964. He was also a member of the College’s Lay Advisory Board and the Development Club for many years.

Father Alfred received the “Man of the Year” award from the Jeannette Jaycees in 1954. He was also a former district governor of Toastmasters International, District #13; a past president of the Ligonier Lions Club; and a former chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Councils #278 and #4632.

Father Alfred is survived by one sister, Mrs. Alice Nescot of Jeannette, Pa., and by nieces and nephews.