Pope John Paul II's English tutor dead at 83

Retired Bishop W. Thomas Larkin died in his home in Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday, November 4, after a long battle with leukemia. Larkin grew up in Mount Morris, New York, and was ordained in 1947. His first assigment was in Daytona Beach. He later studied in Rome for his doctorate. His roommate was Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. The two became friends and Larkin helped Wojtyla learn English. From 1979 to 1988, Larkin oversaw the 300,000-member Diocese of St. Petersburg. Under his leadership, 19 new parishes, a radio station, and offices for Hispanics, blacks, and the disabled were created. Larkin was 83.

Sources: Associated Press, Diocese of St. Petersburg