Dunedin Church Leader Dies During Family Reunion

Bishop Angelo William Nicolaro of Dunedin's Holy Apostles Catholic Charismatic Church has died, after being pulled underwater by a rip current in North Carolina.

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that the 72-year-old pastor was celebrating his 50th anniversary, with his wife, Mary Ann, at Ocean Isle Beach.

Rescuers responded to a report about swimmers in distress at about 11:30 a.m., on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, according to North Carolina news website starnewsonline.

When rescuers arrived, Nicolaro's adult son had made it to shore, but his father was still in the water. Father Nicolaro was pulled from the water, but later died at a local hospital.

The couple had been at a family reunion with their five children and 19 grandchildren.

Father Nicolaro had strong ties to Dunedin. He had formed Dunedin's Holy Apostles Catholic Charismatic Church, a congregation of the Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada that allows marriage.

The Nicolaro family has owned and operated Scotland Manor, an assisted living home in Dunedin. 

Father Nicolaro also had worked as a self-employed beekeeper and was a weather enthusiast, according to Sylvan.Tributes.com.

According to Sylvan.Tributes.com, visitation is Monday, July 8, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. at Holy Apostles Church, 1605 Pinehurst Rd., Dunedin.

To hear sermons by "Father Bill," please click here and visit the church website.