The image of Father Cataldo used in his later years and after his death, is a profiled face, deeply creased by years and experience, gazing into the future. Available but not used was an image of a generally nondescript old man, whose friendly eyes are looking directly into ours. He had become larger than life, and the alternative would not do. Nostalgia fueled much of Father Cataldo's iconic status. He represented the simpler, more heroic times of the pioneers, and the regional progress made since then. It is clear that Father Cataldo embraced this role, not as self-promotion but as an act of public service. He was available for civic events, lent his prominent name to the fundraising strategies of Gonzaga, and employed his old connections with men like James Monaghan on behalf of his beloved "Slickpoo" [Nez Perce] Mission.
