The LuLac Edition #4,463, December 27th, 2020

 

 FATHER TOM CARTEN

Broadcast people or those who were bitten by that bug at an early age are pretty much infected by that bug our entire lives. No matter where we go in our lifetime, you'll find that when we travel to a new town or country even, the first thing we do is check out who and what is on the radio.

Like other professions or avocations we meet all types of people. Some that are like passing blips on a radar screen and others that stay in your mind and heart forever. One of those people for me was Father Tom Carten. He and I came in contact at the King's College Radio station WRKC. He was the founder of the Radio Home Visitor which was a reading service for the blind. Thanks to the tenacity of my friend Sue Henry and a band of great volunteer readers the program is still on the air at 88.5FM.

The show which is the reading of a newspaper (The Citizens' Voice) everyday gave those visually impaired people or just the curious an opportunity to keep up with the local news. But it was more than that. The genius of it thought up by Father Carten was that it also served as a training ground for those nervous young King's men and women who wanted to be on the radio but were afraid to try it. Carten said, "Well just read a little news article for my program and see how you do." They did and many joined the college radio staff which has produced many great broadcasters that went national, or "big time big shots" as Father would say.

Tom was the perfect tonic with his biting wit, humor and ability to bust your stones without devastating you whenever your ego got a little too big for your britches. (Not that he ever had to do that with me mind you!) More importantly though, as he did with a few people who were going down a dicey path, he'd steer them the right way in the kind, logical manner they came to know and appreciate.

We are so heartbroken over this. He was a mentor and an inspiration to us. He once told us it’s not important what you or the station looks like but what it sounds like going out of that speaker.

Father came to the priesthood in his thirties. Prior to that he worked at a radio station in Connecticut and also a world famous helicopter factory there. I think it might have been Sikorsky.

But radio aside, his Masses were steeped in Christianity and kindness. His blessings as a priest were a personal honor when given on special occasions. It made you a better and more faithful Catholic.

He’d be rolling his eyes now as I write this saying it’s typical Yonki hyperbole but the true fact of the matter is “He was a walking saint among us”.

Here he is with Sue Henry a few years back at one of the RKC reunions.

 Father Carten, beloved priest, radio host, writer, dies at 78 | News | citizensvoice.com