Msgr. Antoine Attea, led two area parishes

Msgr. Attea

Msgr. Antoine P. Attea, a Williamsville native who served as pastor of two area parishes, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007 when the aircraft he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport.

Msgr. Attea was pastor of St. James Parish in Jamestown and Our Lady of Victory Parish in Frewsburg.

The crash was reported at about 9:45 a.m. Msgr. Attea was flying to Buffalo to pick up friends who planned to fly to Florida for a vacation.

Msgr. Attea attended the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Buffalo and graduated from Our Lady of the Angels Seminary at Niagara University in 1955.

He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 20, 1958 by Archbishop Martin O'Connor at the North American College in Rome. Funeral arrangements will be announced.