Gray

The Rev. Theodore Donald Gray, 87, formerly of New Kensington and a retired priest of the Archdiocese of San Juan Puerto Rico, died Sunday at the Good Samaritan Hospice, Cabot.

Father Gray was born to the late Lawrence A. and Ethel Marks Gray, July 29, 1922, in the village of West Winfield.

A priest for 60 years, Father received his primary education at West Winfield Elementary School. At the age of 13, his family moved to New Kensington, where they joined the St. Joseph Church. Father graduated from the former St. Joseph Grade School, New Kensington, in 1936. He began his high school studies that fall at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman.

In July 1942, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Cumberland, Md. Having completed the novitiate year, he made temporary vows in the order for three years. At this time, Father continued his studies in philosophy in Victoria, Kan. In July 1945, he was transferred to Capuchin College, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., where he completed his theological studies.

Father Gray was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 1949. In July 1949, Father was missioned through the Capuchin Order to Puerto Rico. After mastering the Spanish language, Father served in a variety of parochial missionary assignments, including serving as parochial vicar of St. Francis Parish in San Juan. His first pastorate was at Holy Cross Parish in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Father was the founding pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Villa Prades, Puerto Rico, where he supervised the building of the church, school, convent and rectory. Father also was episcopal vicar for Rio Piedras Vicariate. Father also served as the vice provincial of the Capuchin Fathers of Puerto Rico.

In 1962, Father was given permission to become the first chaplain of the Air National Guard of Puerto Rico. He served for 21 years beginning at the rank of captain and retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Father Gray was incardinated into the Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1980. At this time, he was named pastor of the Church of St. Peter and Paul. He served as pastor of the Church of Stella Maris from 1987 until his retirement in 1999. For a time, Father was director of the Archdiocesan Head Start Program.

In 1999, following his retirement, he returned to New Kensington, where he made his home with his sister, Ann and brother, Richard. During his retirement years, he assisted in being the caregiver to a number of his siblings and assisted at parishes in the Allegheny-Kiski Valley, including his home parish of St. Joseph, where he was a stable fixture for many years.

He is survived by a brother, Richard A. Gray of New Kensington; nieces and nephews, Dennis and Betty Leebel, Glenn and Enid Emmert, Michael and Judy Lucidi, William Leebel, Daniel and Susan Nowicki, Mary K. Horton, Barbara Gray, Tony and Kathy Sluka, Macy Gray, William Gray, Tony and Cyndi Dudek and Norman and Beverly Gray and their families.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, his twin Robert D., William L., Harry T. and James L. Gray; and two sisters, Mary E. Leebel and Anna E. Gray.

<B>GRAY</B> — The Rev. Theodore Donald Gray, who died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, will lie in state with viewing from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph Church, 1125 Leishman Ave., New Kensington, where a memorial Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Additional viewing in the church will continue following the memorial Mass until 9 p.m. A Christian Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday with the Most Reverend Lawrence E. Brandt, JCD, Ph.D., Bishop of Greensburg, as the celebrant. His Eminence Luis Cardinal Aponte, Archbishop Emeritus of San Juan Puerto Rico, will be in attendance. Internment will be in the priests' plot of St. Mary's Cemetery, Lower Burrell.Arrangements are by the <B>Rusiewicz Funeral Homes</B>, Arnold and Lower Burrell.Information also is available at www.RusiewiczFH.com.