Obit

Father Edwin J. Conlin

Hospital chaplain and pastor was 89

Posted

Father Edwin J. Conlin who was a hospital chaplain and pastor of two parishes, died March 21 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. He was 89.

He was chaplain at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan for 22 years. Appointed to the post in 1980, he continued serving there for at least 10 years after his 1992 retirement.

He was pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs parish in Manhattan, 1972-1980, and of St. Jerome's parish in the Bronx, 1968-1972.

Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. Sheridan, retired as vicar general, offered the Funeral Mass on March 26 at St. Margaret of Cortona Church in Riverdale. Father Gerald J. Ryan, pastor of St. Luke's in the Bronx, was the homilist.

Father Ryan, a longtime friend, described Father Conlin in an interview as "an intellectual man" who enjoyed good books, good conversation and good music, especially opera. He also loved his hometown.

"He's been called the quintessential New Yorker," Father Ryan said.

"He was born in Yorkville and grew up in Central Park, you might say.

"He was also a very spiritual man," he said. "He loved his daily Mass and he loved spiritual readings." When declining eyesight made reading difficult, he spent his days in prayer, Father Ryan said.

A Manhattan native, Father Conlin studied for the priesthood at Cathedral College and St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie. He was ordained in 1942.

He served as parochial vicar at Holy Family parish, New Rochelle; St. Ann's, Manhattan; St. Pius V, the Bronx; Incarnation, Manhattan; and St. Mary's, Staten Island.

He is survived by a brother, John.

Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Queens.

Father Edwin J. Conlin