Father Clement J. Heid, O.S.B., the son of the late Frank and Anna (Schwab) Heid, a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA, died on October 25, 2004. He was 88 years old. Father Clement was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on February 21, 1916. He was one of six children. His other brothers are John and Leonard Heid, of Erie, and the late Martin Heid, Father Roland Heid, O.S.B., who was also a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Francis Heid.
He attended Saint Mary Grade School, Erie, and was a 1934 graduate of Saint Vincent Preparatory School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College in 1941. He attended Saint Vincent Seminary from 1938 to 1944, and did graduate studies at Marquette University, and the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a master of letters degree in mathematics in 1949.
He entered the Benedictine monastic Community of Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1937. He made simple profession of Vows on July 2, 1938, and solemn profession on July 11, 1941. He was ordained a priest by the late Hugh C. Boyle, Bishop of Pittsburgh, on June 11, 1944.
Father Clement served the Archabbey primarily in its educational apostolates. At Saint Vincent Scholasticate he was a prefect (1938–1940), and at Saint Vincent Preparatory School he was a teacher (1943–1945). At Saint Vincent College, he was assistant Archabbey librarian (1940-42), a professor of mathematics (1947–1981), and Chair of the Mathematics Department (1955–1960). In 1985, he was named Professor Emeritus of Saint Vincent College.
From 1944–1988, he served in numerous weekend mission assignments throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He was an assistant pastor at Saint Mary Parish, Erie (1945–1947), a prefect at Saint Vincent Seminary (1952-1963), Chaplain of the monastic infirmary (1965–1988), and Director of the Lay Retreat Program (1982–1983). He was also Director of Health Care Benefits for the Archabbey (1982-1990) and Director for Mass Intentions for the Archabbey from 1982 to 2002. In 2004, he was named curator of the Archabbey Coin Collection.
Father Clement’s body will be received at the Elizabeth Roderick Center, Saint Vincent Archabbey, on Thursday, October 28, at 3:00 P.M. Viewing will be held in the parlor of the Elizabeth Roderick Center from 3-5 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. on Thursday and 3-5 on Friday. A wake service will be held in Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica at 7:15 on Friday, October 29, after which Fr. Clement’s body will lie in state in the Basilica until 9 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica on Saturday, October 30, at 9:30 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Education Fund at Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650.
