FEDERAL WAY — Father Thomas L. “Tom” Vandenberg, a longtime priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle and author, died July 31, 2024. He was 88.

Born March 21, 1936, to Albert and Joyce (Haugen) Vandenberg in Mount Vernon, he graduated from Highline High School in Burien in 1954 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, in 1958. He also received a master of divinity degree from St. Thomas the Apostle Seminary in 1962 and a master’s degree from Regis College in Denver in 1986.

Father Vandenberg served at several parishes in the archdiocese, including St. Philomena in Des Moines, Our Lady of Lourdes in Seattle and St. Patrick in Seattle. But his longest role was as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, where he served from 1982 until his retirement in 2008. He was then named pastor emeritus at the parish.

In addition to his years of pastoral ministry, Father Vandenberg was the director of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), served with the Cursillo Movement and ministered with Worldwide Marriage Encounter. He authored three books: “The Celibacy Myth: Loving for Life” in 1987, “Rediscovering a Pearl of Great Price: The Surprising Sacrament of Matrimony” in 2012 and “The Logic of Love: Healing the Human Wound,” which was published in June 2024.

He loved the beauty of God’s creation, spending time hiking around the Pacific Northwest, skiing, traveling and golfing with fellow priests and parishioners.

Father Vandenberg was known for his thought-provoking and powerful homilies, often beginning with a story to capture the parishioners’ attention, relating it to Scripture and a relationship with God. He is also remembered as having a gift for presiding at funeral Masses, and many grieving families were comforted by his charism of ministering to the bereaved.

Parishioners and family members said Father Vandenberg’s love and his example of joyful faith, even when enduring heavy crosses, changed their lives. His family is grateful for the gift of his vocation. 

He is survived by brothers James Joseph Vandenberg and Russell Vandenberg, sister-in-law Margie Vandenberg and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Albert Vandenberg.

A vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Federal Way. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13, also at St. Vincent de Paul Church.

Interment will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at Gethsemane Cemetery in Federal Way.