Reverend Thomas R. Axe, a longtime priest in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died on October 4, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on March 7, 1934, in Hamilton, Ohio, and was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Hamilton. He completed his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood. Father Axe also earned a master’s degree in history from Xavier University. He was ordained on May 28, 1960, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Axe began his ministry on June 15, 1960, as an assistant at St. James Church in White Oak. He later served as an assistant at St. Clare Parish in Cincinnati from 1964 to 1966, St. Patrick Parish in Northside from 1966 to 1967, and St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Monfort Heights from 1967 to 1969. During this period, he was also on staff at McAuley High School in Cincinnati from 1962 to 1969.

From June 1969 to July 1970, Father Axe worked outside the archdiocese at Theological College in Washington, D.C. On July 15, 1970, he joined the faculty at St. Gregory Seminary. The following month, he was appointed assistant at St. Bernard Parish and Mother of Christ Mission in Winton Place, and later became administrator of both while remaining on the seminary faculty.

Father Axe’s later assignments included co-pastor of St. Clare Parish in Cincinnati in 1975, pastor of St. Raphael Parish in Springfield in 1977, and Dean of the Springfield Deanery for four years starting in 1978. He also served as Spiritual Director of the Springfield Particular Council of St. Vincent de Paul Society. In 1980, he became Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program and joined the staff of the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program. He was appointed chaplain at the Convent of St. Ursula in 1980, while continuing his other roles.

In the 1980s, Father Axe held several associate and administrative positions at Assumption Parish in Walnut Hills and St. Mary Parish in Hyde Park, while maintaining his responsibilities with the Permanent Diaconate Program and as chaplain at St. Ursula Convent. He became temporary administrator and later pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Cincinnati, and in 1994, temporary administrator of St. Agnes Parish.

Father Axe was appointed pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Cincinnati in 1994, a role he held for two six-year terms. He retired from active ministry on November 1, 2003.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Community of the Good Shepherd Church, 8815 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio. The memorial Mass will follow at 12:00 noon at the same location. The celebrant will be Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, and the homilist will be Reverend Michael J. Graham, SJ.