Diocese’s former prison ministry director died at 82 in Ohio

Published: September 9, 2021

Thomas “Tom” F. Navin, who served 13 years as the social action and prison ministry director with Catholic Charities of Arkansas, died Aug. 29 in Fort Mitchell, Ohio. He was 82.

Navin was born Aug. 26, 1939, in Marion, Ohio, to Francis and Helen Lutz Navin. He graduated from Indiana University, with a lifelong devotion to the Hoosiers.

In his early life, he was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He also worked for several years in the advertising industry.

While serving in the Diocese of Little Rock, Navin co-founded Catholic Charities Summer Institute, C2SI, a weeklong event for teens. He also started the diocese’s addiction ministry. He served as an advocate for those suffering from incarceration, addiction and homelessness. Navin played Santa Claus for many years at the annual Christmas Caravan and Outreach event serving Little Rock’s homeless population.

Before moving to Arkansas, Navin worked in social action ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. In recent years, he served on the social action committee for the Cincinnati Archdiocese and the Racism, Climate Change and Interfaith Addiction task forces, according to his obituary. He retired in 2021 as director of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for Glenmary Home Missioners in Cincinnati.

He is survived by two sons, Patrick Navin of Fort Wright, Ky., and Kevin Navin of Little Rock; three daughters, Brigid Matlock of Woodlawn, Ky., Nora Navin of Chicago, and Maureen Simon of Cincinnati; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service was held in Covington, Ky. Memorial donations can be made to Glenmary Home Missioners, 4119 Glenmary Trace Fairfield, OH 45014, or to a local animal shelter.

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