Reverend Monsignor Rudolph August Daz, Jr.

Reverend Monsignor Rudolph A. Daz, beloved pastor, friend and faithful priest, died on May 18, 2024, at the age of 96 at Saint Joseph Villa, Salt Lake City, where he had been in retirement since 2011, and in recent weeks on hospice care.

Monsignor Daz was born in Ogden, Utah on April 17, 1928, the son of Rudolph August Daz, Sr. and Edith Piersanti. He attended Madison and St. Joseph elementary schools, Saint Joseph High School, and Ogden High School graduating in 1944. He attended college at Saint Mary’s, Moraga, California and St. Joseph College, Mt. View, California, and did his theological training at Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, California. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Ogden, on January 24, 1954 for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. (In fact, he received all his sacraments at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Ogden — Baptism through Ordination.)

The first ten years of his priestly ministry were spent as Assistant Pastor at St. Marguerite (Tooele), Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (Midvale), Saint Ann (Salt Lake City) and Holy Rosary (Bingham Canyon — now Immaculate Conception, Copperton) – 1954 to 1964. He then served as Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish, Eureka (1958-1964), Saint Patrick Parish, Salt Lake City, 1964- 1966), and then Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Helper (1966- 1977). During his final years as Pastor in Helper, he attended the four-month Vatican II Institute in Oakland, California.

Beginning in February of 1977, Monsignor served for ten years as Pastor of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, West Jordan (1977 – 1987); and his final assignment for fourteen years was as Pastor of Saint Olaf Parish, Bountiful (1987-2011). During this time, he spent a three-month sabbatical at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education in Rome, Italy (Feb – May, 1993). He was elevated to Prelate of Honor to his Holiness, with the title of Monsignor, on April 30, 2001. During his time in Bountiful, he served as Dean of the Northern Deanery for three consecutive terms (9 years).

During his years as Pastor of Saint Olaf Parish and through his retirement years at Saint Joseph Villa, he was faithfully cared for by Mrs. Jerrie Lou Barrett, who had ministered as Director of Religious Education at the parish for many years. The Diocese of Salt Lake City is especially grateful for all the attention and care Mrs. Barrett provided for him on more than a weekly basis those many years.

Monsignor Daz was a gentle man, a holy man, a faithful servant of the Church, well beloved by both his brother priests and parishioners. Monsignor learned the art of Italian cooking from his mother, who ran an Italian restaurant in Ogden, and loved to cook for his friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his three sisters: Gloria Josephine (Daz) Paoli, Vera Angela (Daz) Griffin, and Nancy Catherine (Daz) Payne.

The Vigil will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 7:00 pm with viewing following at the Cathedral of the Madeleine (331 East South Temple Street). The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11:00 am, also at The Cathedral of the Madeleine. Committal Rite to follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 4th Avenue and “T” St., Salt Lake City. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the The Priests’ Mutual Benefit Society (27 C Street, Salt Lake City, Utah) or to one of the parishes he so faithfully served.