Deceased Friars

Raymond A. Beane, OFM

Raymond A. Beane

1911 – 1999

Fr. Raymond Beane, OFM, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 9, 1911. His father’s job soon required a family-move to Cumberland, Md., where he attended St. Patrick’s elementary and LaSalle Institute secondary schools.

After graduating from St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y., he joined the Franciscans of Holy Name Province. Fr. Raymond entered the novitiate Aug. 29, 1934, at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed temporary vows Aug. 31, 1935. He made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1938, and was ordained to the priesthood Oct. 9, 1938.

During those years, Fr. Raymond earned a master of arts from St. Bonaventure’s. His first assignment, in 1939, was to the faculty of Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. He spent 10 years there — in two stints — teaching music and religion, meanwhile composing Siena’s alma mater and its victory march.

In 1943 he became a chaplain in the naval reserve, where he was to spend nine years on active duty, again in two stints, until he was separated from the service in 1957 (remaining on active reserve until 1971).

Out of the Navy, Fr. Ray assisted briefly at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass., before being transferred to Atlanta’s Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for 15 years, two as parochial assistant and sometime organist, and 13 as chaplain of the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary.

He retired in 1973 from federal service and moved to Big Pine Key in Florida, where he assisted for 25 years in his local parish, St. Peter’s, and occasionally in the other parishes in the Keys.

Fr. Raymond died July 30, 1999, at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where he had resided since May of that year. He was 88 years old, a professed Franciscan for almost 64 years and a priest for 60.

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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Raymond A. Beane, OFM

Raymond A. Beane

1911 – 1999

Fr. Raymond Beane, OFM, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 9, 1911. His father’s job soon required a family-move to Cumberland, Md., where he attended St. Patrick’s elementary and LaSalle Institute secondary schools.

After graduating from St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y., he joined the Franciscans of Holy Name Province. Fr. Raymond entered the novitiate Aug. 29, 1934, at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., and professed temporary vows Aug. 31, 1935. He made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1938, and was ordained to the priesthood Oct. 9, 1938.

During those years, Fr. Raymond earned a master of arts from St. Bonaventure’s. His first assignment, in 1939, was to the faculty of Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. He spent 10 years there — in two stints — teaching music and religion, meanwhile composing Siena’s alma mater and its victory march.

In 1943 he became a chaplain in the naval reserve, where he was to spend nine years on active duty, again in two stints, until he was separated from the service in 1957 (remaining on active reserve until 1971).

Out of the Navy, Fr. Ray assisted briefly at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass., before being transferred to Atlanta’s Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for 15 years, two as parochial assistant and sometime organist, and 13 as chaplain of the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary.

He retired in 1973 from federal service and moved to Big Pine Key in Florida, where he assisted for 25 years in his local parish, St. Peter’s, and occasionally in the other parishes in the Keys.

Fr. Raymond died July 30, 1999, at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where he had resided since May of that year. He was 88 years old, a professed Franciscan for almost 64 years and a priest for 60.