Born Thomas Anthony Drohan on September 7, 1906 in Winchester, Massachusetts, he was the son of Michael and Johanna Fitzgerald Drohan. He was educated at St. Mary’s parochial school, Winchester and Boston College High School from 1920 until 1922. He was at Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk, New York from 1922 until 1926. Professed on August 15, 1927 in West Springfield, Massachusetts, he received the religious name Athanasius. On June 15, 1933 he was ordained at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Newark, New Jersey by Bishop Thomas J. Walsh. From 1936 until 1939 he was chaplain at St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland then went to Arizona for his health and assisted in parishes there. In 1944 he returned east but went back to Arizona, again, due to his health. In 1950 he returned to Union City, New Jersey and then went on to live in West Springfield, and Brighton, Massachusetts. He was one of the first residents in the Brighton infirmary. In February 1977 he was transferred to the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts Nursing Home.
Birth Date:
September 7, 1906
Profession Date:
August 15, 1927
Ordination Date:
June 15, 1933
Death Date:
March 20, 1977
Religious Name:
Athanasius of the Sorrowful Mother Drohan