Deceased Friars

Edmund Christy, OFM

Edmund Christy

1911 – 1989

Fr. Edmund Christy, OFM, was born on Oct. 14, 1911 in Tidioute, Penn. He attended St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and in his junior year decided to join the friars. He was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., in 1932 and professed temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1936 and was ordained a priest in 1938.

He spent many years of ministry at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., where he taught physics, worked in public relations, and served as a dean of discipline. Fr. Edmund was then assigned to be master of clerics in Butler, N.J., but he returned to Siena College, where he was named vice president in 1950. Two years later, he was appointed guardian there.

In 1955, Fr. Edmund was appointed president of Siena College. During his tenure, the first two dormitories — Ryan Hall and Plassmann Hall — were built and the dining room and Serra Hall were also constructed. Fr. Edmund is considered the second founder of Siena, for he brought the school out of debt and established an associate board of lay trustees.

Upon his completion of his presidency at Siena, Fr. Edmund went to Holy Name College in Washington as procurator for one year. For the next 17 years, he lived at St. Francis Friary in New York City and served as director of finance for the Province. In 1982, he began working for St. Anthony’s Guild.

He died on Sept. 24, 1989 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, N.J. Fr. Edmund was almost 78 years of age, a professed friar for 56 years and a priest for 51 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Edmund Christy, OFM

Edmund Christy

1911 – 1989

Fr. Edmund Christy, OFM, was born on Oct. 14, 1911 in Tidioute, Penn. He attended St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., and in his junior year decided to join the friars. He was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., in 1932 and professed temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1936 and was ordained a priest in 1938.

He spent many years of ministry at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., where he taught physics, worked in public relations, and served as a dean of discipline. Fr. Edmund was then assigned to be master of clerics in Butler, N.J., but he returned to Siena College, where he was named vice president in 1950. Two years later, he was appointed guardian there.

In 1955, Fr. Edmund was appointed president of Siena College. During his tenure, the first two dormitories — Ryan Hall and Plassmann Hall — were built and the dining room and Serra Hall were also constructed. Fr. Edmund is considered the second founder of Siena, for he brought the school out of debt and established an associate board of lay trustees.

Upon his completion of his presidency at Siena, Fr. Edmund went to Holy Name College in Washington as procurator for one year. For the next 17 years, he lived at St. Francis Friary in New York City and served as director of finance for the Province. In 1982, he began working for St. Anthony’s Guild.

He died on Sept. 24, 1989 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, N.J. Fr. Edmund was almost 78 years of age, a professed friar for 56 years and a priest for 51 years.