Lotito Family with Fr. Thom, Shari Roeseler and Fr. Bob.

Today the Lotito family came to St. Anthony’s to celebrate the Fr. Floyd Lotito’s birthday. Fr. Floyd Lotito, longtime director of many of St. Anthony Foundation programs, passed away June 14, 2009. They brought along 30 hand knitted scarves to be given to guests at St. Anthony Dining Room on Christmas Day.

We were honored to have his relatives with us to share memories of his life and his work!

Fr. Alfred & Fr. Floyd Lotito celebrating St. Anthony’s 25th Anniversary in 1975

On Sunday St. Anthony Foundation turned 59 years old.  Which strikes us here a few different ways.  It means that for nearly six decades St. Anthony’s programs have been open to serve those in our community who need them most.  It means that for folks who have fallen through the holes in the safety net, there have been hands there to reach out to them, and help them back to their feet.

It also means those services, that were intended to help men in the post-war 1950’s economy to re-stabilize, have not become unnecessary.  That still, through wars, economic peaks and valleys, the structures that create poverty have not changed. And in many cases, have changed for the worse.

For now, even though the Foundation is entering its golden years, we are more active than ever.  Seeking ways to best serve the ever-changing population that comes to us for help.  Finding ways to collaborate and plan for the future, to advocate and work with community leaders and service providers to make hunger, poverty and homelessness obsolete.  And until that day comes, when we can put ourselves out of business, we will remain a cornerstone for those who need a hand up.

This picture ran in the Sunday, July 26th edition of the San Francisco Examiner.

Some years back now, I knew a wonderful “Grandma”–a Native American Indian Elder who told me “Francis (of Assisi) would’ve made a good Indian! He knew that all Nature was sacred and he knew how to talk with animals”. I imagine she would’ve recognized these same qualities in Fr. Floyd Lotito, OFM, beloved Franciscan Priest of St. Anthony Foundation for more than 40 years, who died this July 14th, 2009. I saw in Fr. Floyd’s obituary, that he’s descended on his Father’s side, from generations of Italian shepherds. You could say that Fr. Floyd was a “shepherd” in the priestley sense, but when he blessed the animals of San Francisco every October 4th (Francis’s Feast Day), he was also following in the literal shepherding heritage of his family. One of my first encounters with Father Floyd was at this very event in October 2000. Along with my 2 dogs, I joined the throngs of horses, dogs, cats, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, turtles, and human beings who gathered in front of St. Boniface Church, to receive the Fr. Floyd’s blessing…

…My early encounter was followed by many more, and most regularly, when we would have our weekend volunteer orientations. Fr. Floyd was almost always working in his office on Saturday and Sunday, and he would never miss a chance to drop in to welcome the new volunteers (and to enjoy a few tasty ginger snaps!). He spoke “human”, with generous accents of humor and faith, and I could sense the level of communication sinking in to a deeper level when he’d thank them and predict that they’d feel they were receiving more than they were giving (a sentiment that our volunteers confirm again and again)…

His absence is this regard, is just one of the countless reasons that we’re going to miss him dearly! But his 40 plus years of presence, thank goodness, remains.

The original “Wolf of Gubbio”–the real & ravenous wolf that Francis himself spoke with, became a trusted town mascot and companion once Francis heard the wolf’s plight and arranged for the villagers to feed him. St. Boniface Neighborhood Center’s “Gubbio Project” offers simple hospitality to people who are homeless-our brothers and sisters who are all too frequently looked upon with fear and loathing. These same “relatives” are among those who frequent St. Anthony Foundation, too, not only the Dining Room, but other services as well. These are among the programs that our dedicated volunteers support with their kind presence, day in and day out.

Fr. Floyd was equally at home with all people–volunteers, guests, clients, staff, donors, dignataries–you name it! His Franciscan vocation and dedication to serving the poor however, distinguished him, and guided us for nearly half a century!

Means, for Fr. Floyd, was not so much something you had in your pocket, but more so something that you carried in your heart. He seemed to recognize it in everyone, even and maybe especially, in the most troubled. To be genuinely recognized in this way, lifts the spirit and sparkles the eye! You could witness this endlessly, if you were near Fr. Floyd as he went anywhere. People would just light up! Our volunteers too, blessed for years by Fr. Floyd, demonstrate that same ability to recognize one another as brothers and sisters deserving of every hospitality and appreciation. This is the “language” that heals-that welcoming, tending, shepherding way that Fr. Floyd lived and bequeathed to us.

It’s easy and wonderful to imagine him meeting up joyfully with people (and animals!) who’ve gone before him. May he be having many wonderful reunions in Paradise, and may he continue to send his blessing to the entire St. Anthony Foundation Community. We will miss him. We will remember him!

All of us at St. Anthony’s have heavy hearts this week. Our friend and colleague, Fr. Floyd Lotito, OFM, has gone home to God, a few days shy of his 75th birthday. For forty years Floyd’s blood, sweat and tears (and lots of song and laughter as well) have been poured out here at Jones & Golden Gate, in service to God’s favorite people: the poor. This dear, and much loved, Friar personified the ancient, revered tradition we call “Franciscan”, and in his honor, we remember and celebrate that legacy of loving service.

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I searched high and low at St. Anthony’s yesterday for as many photos as I could of Fr. Floyd. I thought the blog would be a suitable place to share some images of his 41 years of service at St. Anthony’s.

Fr. Floyd undertook many projects and helped countless people. The following images capture only a small fraction of what he accomplished on this tiny block of Golden Gate Avenue.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA Franciscan Father Floyd Lotito, longtime director of many programs at St. Anthony Foundation since 1970, died on July 14th, 2009. He was 74 years old.

Equally at home with A-list socialites and the poorest residents of San Francisco, Fr. Lotito was a passionate advocate for the poor throughout his entire life. In San Francisco, he is perhaps best known for his work with St. Anthony Foundation, where he has served in various capacities since 1968. (more…)