Rev. Frank Toste, C.S.C., 85, died at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Mass., on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, following a brief illness.
Fr. Toste was born on March 20, 1926, in Providence, RI, the son of Anthony and Mary (Pental) Toste. He entered the U.S. Navy in March of 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946 after service in the U.S., Europe and Africa. He received a B.A. from Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. Fr. Toste entered the Congregation of Holy Cross and made his First and Final Vows on September 12, 1954, and August 16, 1958, respectively. He was ordained a priest on April 30, 1960. He received an M.A. in Theology from Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., in 1960 and an M.A. in Literature from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in 1991.
Fr. Toste taught at Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, Conn., and was Camp Director at Camp Sebaik in Maine. He taught at St. Peter’s High School in Gloucester, Mass., where he became Assistant Principal in 1969. Fr. Toste also taught at Peabody High School in Peabody, Mass., where he was head of the drama department. While pursuing doctoral studies at the Union Institute of Cincinnati, he assisted at St. Anthony’s Parish in Sanbornville, N.H. In 2008, he retired to Cocoa Beach, Fla., until his return “up north” to the North Dartmouth community in 2010.
Always an avid stage and screen participant, Fr. Toste received certificates in Cinema from the School of Cinema/Television at the University of Southern California and the Feagin School of Drama and Radio in New York City. He was most proud of his affiliation with the film,” Love Story,”in which he had a speaking role and met the co-stars of the film, Ryan O’Neil and Ali MacGraw. Fr. Toste was also an Equity Actor and a technical advisor for the long-standing television series“M.A.S.H.,”appeared in “Oliver’s Story,” and was on stage at the North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly, Mass. He was a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Fr. Toste was proceeded in death by his parents, Anthony and Mary (Pental) Toste. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Llamas, and several nieces and nephews.
Viewing and a wake service for Fr. Toste were held in the Chapel of Mary on the campus of Stonehill College, Easton, Mass., Sunday, July 10,2011. The funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, July 11, 2011, also in the Chapel of Mary.
