Former St. Anne Pastor Votta dies of brain tumor at 45

The 45-year-old priest lead the church for the past six years, inspiring its congregation to become involved in church activities and to expand its facilities at Maryland Parkway and St. Louis Avenue.

"He was a pastor who touched everybody," said Judy Dawson, director of religious education at St. Anne. "People knew and loved him."

St. Anne is a multi-cultural parish, noted Dawson, and Votta spoke several languages, among them Vietnamese and Spanish.

Votta conducted mass in Vietnamese twice monthly.

Dawson said Votta had attended a 10 a.m. service Sunday and was preparing to attend a 2 p.m. Spanish mass when he died from a brain tumor.

Votta was thought to have suffered a stroke at midnight mass on Christmas Eve and was partially paralyzed. Doctors later discovered the stroke was the result of a hemorrhaging tumor.

Dawson said Votta was undergoing radiation treatment and seemed to be recovering when he suffered a relapse in March at the dedication of a new mult-purpose center.

The center, which will be used by the church as well as the St. Anne Elementary School, includes a gym , computer lab and a kitchen.

The building is called the Fadwa Ghanem Mult-Purpose Center, after the mother of Dr. Elias Ghanem, who made a substantial financial contribution toward the construction of the facility.

The center is one of several building projects inspired by Votta.

"He was instrumental in putting together a chapel in the rectory," said Judy Dawson, director of religious education at St. Anne.

And he was instrumental at getting people involved in church ministries.

Joyce Vestal, former director of development at St. Anne, described Votta as "kind and quiet person who gave a lot of inspiration to others. He started a lot of activities, such as the children's choir, and started a lot of different organizations that were needed.

"He got many, many people involved."

Vestal said Votta was a sports fan whose favorite team was the Philadelphia Eagle.

Votta was born and reared in Pennsylvania, attending Good Shepherd Elementary School, West Catholic High School and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.

He graduated from the seminary in 1979 and on May 18 of that year was ordained a priest.

He ministered for several years in Philadelphia ghettos before coming to Nevada.

He came to St. Anne in Las Vegas in 1986 but later went to Winnemucca for two years.

Votta returned to St. Anne as pastor in 1992.

Survivors include his mother and father, Richard and Elizabeth Votta, of Drexel Hill, Pa.; three brothers, Dr. Richard Votta of Norfolk, Neb., Tim and Michael of Philadelphia; and three sisters, Theresa Emma of New Jersey, Kathleen Fisk of Dover Fox Crost, Maine, and Judy Drennen of Philadelphia; and 24 nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Anne followed by a 7 p.m. vigil service.

Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Daniel Walsh at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Votta's body will be returned to Philadelphia for a Friday service and burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Votta's honor to the St. Anne Parish Building Fund.

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