In Memory
Thomas Robert Moulder
May 31, 1950 ~ January 13, 2026
Thomas Robert Moulder was born May 31, 1950 in South Bend, Indiana, to the late John Shillington Moulder and Katharine Janet Moulder. Notre Dame was part of the family conversation in the household. His father graduated from Notre Dame; Gene Paszkiet, his uncle, was the trainer for the athletic teams for many years; and John Henry Shillington, his great uncle, went down on the Battleship Maine in 1898. There is a monument dedicated to him on campus in front of the Pasquerilla Center, the ROTC building.
He was the youngest of five children and is survived by three sisters, Sharon Ann Finneran, of Lombard, Illinois; Nancy Anne Gurry, of Fort Meyers, Florida, and Katharine Lynn Bailey, of South Bend, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents and Sister, Mary Suzanne Edwards.
After graduating from LaSalle High School in 1968, Thomas attended Hillsdale College, Hillsdale Michigan, transferred to Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana, attended Kent State University, and in June 1971 joined the Marines. While in the Marines, he completed his bachelor’s degree by attending school in his off-duty hours. He graduated from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California in 1975 and joined Holy Trinity Monastery, Pikesville, Maryland after his honorable discharge.
Discerning his vocation was a lifelong endeavor. Thomas joined the U.S. Navy in 1976 and served onboard the USS CORAL SEA (CV-43), where he worked in the legal office. His later assignments included Christchurch, New Zealand, McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Newport, Rhode Island, and Port Hueneme, California. Upon discharge, Thomas joined the U.S. Naval Reserve where he retired, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer at his last command, the Admiral’s Staff in Scotia, New York.
Later, Thomas spent the ensuing years working at the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a legal assistant. He received a top-secret security clearance and assisted in the investigation of high-profile criminal cases in the Anti-Terrorism Unit. He coordinated witness travel for upcoming trials and met with witnesses. While employed, Thomas applied to and was accepted in the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), in Culver City, California in 2006, but after two years, he returned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Francisco, California where he retired in 2008.
Thomas returned to the South Bend area and volunteered at St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka, Indiana. He applied to and was accepted, into the Brothers of Holy Cross at Notre Dame. Thomas completed a novitiate year at Columba Hall, Notre Dame where he eventually took his temporary vows. Thomas pursued a Professional graduate degree at Indiana University, South Bend (Master of Social Work) and was asked to give the convocation at the graduation ceremony at Joyce Center in May 2012. After graduation from Indiana University, He was granted a license as a social worker in Indiana. Thomas joined the staff at Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation where he served as a substitute teacher and was hired at Lincoln Center, Mishawaka, Indiana as a social worker, but was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and retired as a social worker.
Thomas was a Life Member of Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (Member No. 5725) and is a Life Member of the Marine Corps League. The concept of “Service” has been a major theme throughout Thomas’s life. Such service began as an alter boy at Holy Cross Church. He served his country and attained the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps as well Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. Such service continued with civil service work, volunteer work at Marian Women’s Center, San Francisco, California, volunteer work at St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend and Center for the Homeless, South Bend. In addition, he did an internship with the St. Joseph County Veterans Service Office, where he assisted veterans for about 9 months with claims. Finally, Thomas was a 1st Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus in Indiana.
Tom savored life and will be remembered for his good sense of humor. His life was especially enriched by his family and friends and by the staff and residents of Holy Cross Long Term Care, South Bend, Indiana.
Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Church in South Bend, Indiana. He will be interned at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan, after the service.
“And we are put on earth a little space, that we may learn to bear the beams of love” -William Blake
Posted online on January 14, 2026
Published in South Bend Tribune
Added 1/14/2026 1945 GMS
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