Father Richard J. Lo Bianco, 70, died Feb. 23. He was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield.

Born in Chicago, Father Lo Bianco attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Niles College Seminary of Loyola University and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1979.

He served as associate pastor of St. Denis, St. Walter Parish and St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn. He then served as pastor of St. Gerald, before becoming associate pastor of St. Alexander, Palos Heights, and Our Lady Mother of the Church, Willow Springs.

Father Lo Bianco became pastor of Divine Savior, Norridge, in 2009, and then pastor of Holy Cross in 2021. He retired in 2024.

Father Gregory Sakowicz, one of Lo Bianco’s classmates, recalled his friend’s zest for life, how he “had a love for life and was very passionate about what he did and what he believed.”