America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
Msgr. Frederick J. Becker, a longtime chaplain of Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, died Jan. 7 at Reston Hospital in Reston, Va. He was 87.
Msgr. Becker first served at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, beginning in 1985, before Our Lady of Mercy was absorbed into Montefiore in 2008.
He resided at St. Lucy’s parish in the Bronx where he was a Sunday associate, and also served as a weekend associate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Elmsford. He served at both parishes until his death.
Cardinal Dolan offered the Funeral Mass Jan. 19 at St. Anastasia Church, Harriman. Father Robert Norris, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Elmsford, delivered the homily.
Father Norris met Msgr. Becker in 1996 at St. Lucy’s, where Father Norris served as administrator and then as pastor.
“He had a way of communicating with people,” said Father Norris, who has been at Our Lady of Mount Carmel since 2010. “His conversations were easygoing, profound and simple. He was a wonderful person to live with. He was easygoing and he enjoyed the camaraderie with priests in the parish.
“People were very moved by his homilies, thoughtfulness and the easy way that he spoke. He had a wonderful sense of humor.”
Father Norris, in his homily, noted Msgr. Becker’s role as a hospital chaplain and the importance of his position to patients and their families. “He would bring the presence of Jesus to them with his presence and words,” he said.
Msgr. Becker was a chaplain at Bronx Municipal Hospital, the Bronx, 1983-1985 and 1960-1965; St. Vincent’s Hospital, Manhattan, 1974-1983; and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan, 1969-1972.
He was parochial vicar of Sacred Heart, Staten Island, 1972-1974; Our Lady of Victory, Mount Vernon, 1967-1969; and Guardian Angel, Manhattan, 1959-1960. He served on the faculty of Msgr. Farrell High School, Staten Island, 1965-1967, and as a chaplain of Elizabeth Seton School, Yonkers, 1960-1965.
He was named monsignor in 1999.
Born in Manhattan, he attended Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx, and Cathedral College, Manhattan.
He studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, and received a master’s degree from Manhattan College, the Bronx. He was ordained by Francis Cardinal Spellman at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1959.
His sister, Maria Graf, survives him.
Burial was in St. Anastasia Cemetery, Harriman.
