NEW YORK
Post-Star
July 18, 2014
ROXBURY — The Rev. Robert H. Purcell, a former pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Margaretville, New York, who was responsible for fostering an interfaith initiative throughout the Catskill community, died Thursday, July 17, 2014.
Because of his ecumenical efforts, our region was blessed with good will and mutual respect among various religious factions. Friends enjoyed by the father were not exclusively Catholic parishioners, and his annual Passover celebrations were enormously popular.
He was 80 years old and resided in Villa Shalom in Roxbury, New York, where he had created an adoration chapel in honor of the blessed mother, to whom he held a special devotion his entire life.
Father Bob’s path to the priesthood was a circuitous one, unique from the typical calling heard by most young men.
Born April 13, 1934, to Francis J. Purcell and Aldea “Mim” Heroux, who were married July 30, 1933, in St. Joseph’s Church in Cohoes, New York, he attended and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Cohoes, Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, St. Thomas Prep School in Bloomfield, Connecticut, St. Mary’s University in Baltimore, Maryland, Siena College in Loudonville, New York, Our Lady of Angels in Glenmont, New York, and St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York.
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