Obituary for Thomas Richard Sluberski
Thomas Richard Sluberski, beloved minister, educator, and insatiable traveler, died the morning of March 2, 2024. He was born in Jersey City on December 7, 1939 to Anna Louise Gall and Walter Sluberski. Previewing his future ecumenical efforts, he was baptized Lutheran and then Roman Catholic, and later confirmed Congregational and then Lutheran.
His ever inseparable religious and academic journeys continued as he was educated at Concordia Colleges in St. Paul and Fort Wayne, Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, ordained at Valparaiso University, awarded his Doctorate at Heidelberg University, inducted as professor at Concordia College Bronxville, installed as pastor at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Hastings-on-Hudson, and commissioned as the first Russian Ministries Consultant for the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.
Though a lifelong member of the conservative Missouri Synod, Tom was known as a progressive voice and vagabond. His academic service took him from Switzerland to New York, then Russia and finally Brazil. Along the way he lived in a fencing fraternity and a haunted parsonage, was a judge for the International Federation of Bodybuilders, published two books, and endowed a film festival in his name.
The only "property" he ever owned is his burial plot in the historic English Cemetery of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At his request he will be buried in a crypt at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
He is predeceased by his sister Nancy, and survived by five brothers and sisters (Linda, Greg, Walter, Lois, Sandra) and by five nieces and nephews (Christopher, Matthew, Jason, Melissa, James) and seven great-nieces and -nephews (Cameron, Christopher, Luca, Sienna, Eric, Ryan, Adelaide) as well as the scores of students and colleagues who studied with him in so many places and situations around the world.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial gifts to the Sluberski Film Series at Village Lutheran Church (172 White Plains Rd, Bronxville, NY 10708; https://www.vlc-ny.org/
Humane Society of Broward County (2070 Griffin Rd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312),https://humanebroward.com/
The Lutheran World Federation https://lutheranworld.org/
His ever inseparable religious and academic journeys continued as he was educated at Concordia Colleges in St. Paul and Fort Wayne, Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, ordained at Valparaiso University, awarded his Doctorate at Heidelberg University, inducted as professor at Concordia College Bronxville, installed as pastor at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Hastings-on-Hudson, and commissioned as the first Russian Ministries Consultant for the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.
Though a lifelong member of the conservative Missouri Synod, Tom was known as a progressive voice and vagabond. His academic service took him from Switzerland to New York, then Russia and finally Brazil. Along the way he lived in a fencing fraternity and a haunted parsonage, was a judge for the International Federation of Bodybuilders, published two books, and endowed a film festival in his name.
The only "property" he ever owned is his burial plot in the historic English Cemetery of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At his request he will be buried in a crypt at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
He is predeceased by his sister Nancy, and survived by five brothers and sisters (Linda, Greg, Walter, Lois, Sandra) and by five nieces and nephews (Christopher, Matthew, Jason, Melissa, James) and seven great-nieces and -nephews (Cameron, Christopher, Luca, Sienna, Eric, Ryan, Adelaide) as well as the scores of students and colleagues who studied with him in so many places and situations around the world.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial gifts to the Sluberski Film Series at Village Lutheran Church (172 White Plains Rd, Bronxville, NY 10708; https://www.vlc-ny.org/
Humane Society of Broward County (2070 Griffin Rd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312),https://humanebroward.com/
The Lutheran World Federation https://lutheranworld.org/