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Father John T. Monaghan, who served for 54 years at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx, died April 1 at Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home in Manhattan. He was 81.
Father Monaghan was at Cardinal Spellman, 1964-2018, where he taught religion, Latin, English, communication arts, film, photography and television production. He also directed the audio/visual center and supervised the computer education program.
Cardinal Dolan was to preside at the burial April 8 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne.
“He was very kind,” Father Harry Burke, who was ordained with Father Monaghan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1963, told CNY. Cardinal Francis Spellman, then Archbishop of New York, was the ordaining prelate.
Father Monaghan “anticipated what you needed and he was right there with it. He was very helpful,” said Father Burke.
Cardinal Spellman High School now presents the Father John Monaghan Service Award to current and former faculty members for 20-plus years of service to the school.
“The entire Spellman community will miss Father Monaghan,” said Spellman principal Daniel O’Keefe. “He was the longest serving member of the Spellman faculty, having been here for over 50 years. Almost everyone in the history of the school was blessed by his wisdom, his wit and his unfailing devotion to our school.”
Father Burke, who served at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx for 42 years, added, “It’s a very fulfilling experience (to teach). You enjoy teaching them and offering Mass each day.”
Born in Manhattan, Father Monaghan attended Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also received a master’s degree from Fordham University, the Bronx.
He was administrator of Holy Name of Mary, Croton-on-Hudson, for five months in 1986, and parochial vicar of Sacred Heart, Barrytown, 1963.
A Memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date.
