AFFIRMING A PRIESTHOOD, ROOTED IN A REFORMED AND RENEWED CHURCH

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Dunn, Richard

REST IN PEACE

Richard J. Dunn was born in Forest Hills, New York on January 22, 1932. Richard was the son of Arthur M. and Mary Josephine Dunn. After graduating from Bishop Loughlin High School and attending Fordham University, he began studies in preparation for joining the Order of Friars Minor and the priesthood at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, NY

In August 1952, Richard was given the name Thomas upon entering the Franciscan Novitiate in Paterson, NJ. After profession in 1953, Tom pursued studies in philosophy and theology in the schools of Holy Name Province. On April 25, 1959 Tom was ordained to the Priesthood.

After completing a fifth year internship at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Tom served the Province as a teacher at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, NY and was assigned to Siena College in Loudonville, NY. Tom also worked with young people at St. Francis Church in Manhattan.

After the completion of Vatican II, Tom, as with other Friars, requested to live in apartments and work in secular jobs. He subsequently set up in an apartment with several other Friars and began a job as a dispatcher for the New York Fire Department in Central Park.

A couple of years later and after serious soul searching, Tom decided to make a life style change, left the Order and resigned from the Priesthood. However, he continued to work for the fire department. During this time Tom met Susan Reeves; they fell in love and married on March 9, 1974.

Tom was a life-long student of modern theology and gave many lectures on Liberation Theology. He also wrote many letters to various publications. Tom and Susan were great soul mates, sharing similar world views on peace, nature and nuclear disarmament. They had a wonderful marital union, remaining very strong on social issues.

On August 18, 2013, Susan died after battling cancer and complications from Lyme Disease. Susan was a gifted artist who used her many talents for the betterment of others. Tom lost the love of his life.

Tom who suffered from Emphysema, died in his sleep on September 19, 2016 at the age of 84. Tom’s nephews, Richard Dunn and Thomas Dunn were very attentive to him in his latter years. The family received friends on Saturday, September, 24 at DeFrist-Gratton Funeral Home in Mattituck, NY.

A Mass will be offered for Tom at St.Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan at 1:15pm on December 16, 2016.