June 19, 1931—March 6, 2026
Edward Charles Doherty, O.S.A., was born on June 19, 1931, in West Lynn, Massachusetts, the son of Charles E. and Estelle (Comeau) Doherty (both deceased). He had one sister, Barbara (deceased), and one brother, Neil. He was baptized on July 12, 1931, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Lynn, Massachusetts. He attended public schools in Lynn, Massachusetts, from the first to the sixth grades and was enrolled at Sacred Heart School in West Lynn for the seventh and eighth grades from 1937 to 1945. He attended Saint Mary High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, from 1945 to 1949. In 1949, he went to the Augustinian Academy in Staten Island, New York, as a postulant. On September 9, 1950, he was received into the Order as a novice, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate in New Hamburg, New York, he professed first vows on September 10, 1951. He then attended Villanova University from 1951 to 1954 and earned a BA in Philosophy. He then went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, for his theological studies from 1954 to 1958. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1957, at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, by Bishop John McNamara.
Fr. Ed was first assigned to St. Joseph Friary, and he taught at Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, from 1958 to 1960. He was then assigned as associate pastor to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Staten Island, New York, from 1960 to 1961. In 1961, he was assigned to St. Thomas Monastery, Villanova, Pennsylvania, and he taught at Villanova University, from 1961 to 1978. Additionally, while at Villanova University, he was, at various times, Director of Student Housing, Moderator of the nationally known Villanova Singers, Treasurer of the Monastery community, and National Director of the Alumni Annual Fund. For the academic year 1978-1979, he pursued graduate studies at the Angelicum in Rome, while living at Collegio Santa Monica, the Order’s international college in Rome. He was then assigned to Casa San Lorenzo and Biscayne College (later St. Thomas University), Miami, Florida, from 1979 to 1989, where he taught in the religious studies department. He was also appointed the Director of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ accreditation study of the university in 1982-1983. He was a member of the university’s international teaching team at El Escorial in Spain. In addition to assisting in many parishes in the Archdiocese of Miami from 1979 to 1989, he was active in Miami pro-life activities and chaplain of the North Miami Knights of Columbus Marina Council for seven years.
From 1989 to 1994, he served as pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he led the successful capital campaign to renovate the parish church and other parish buildings. From 1995 to 1997, he was assigned to Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery in North Andover, Massachusetts, and he helped in various archdiocesan parishes in the area. In 1997, at the request of the Bishop of Venice, Florida, he served at St. Joseph Parish, Bradenton, for 14 months. In 1998, he returned to Casa San Lorenzo, Miami, Florida, and served in various parishes of the Archdiocese of Miami, from 1998 to 2008: Nativity Parish, Hollywood; Visitation Parish, North Miami; St. Maximilian Kolbe, Pembroke Pines; St. Augustine Parish, Coral Gables. In 2008, he was assigned to St. Thomas Monastery in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and served as a cruise chaplain. Even with declining health in the last few years, Fr. Ed participated in community prayer and Masses with his Augustinian brothers in the Monastery. He passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, at St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery.
Fr. Ed is buried in Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pa.
