Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 11/18/04)

Oblate Father John T. Gavin, who served as a teacher and parish administrator in the Arlington Diocese for 15 years, died of heart failure Nov. 12 at Philadelphia’s Temple University Hospital. He was 72.

A viewing is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 19, from 9-11 a.m. in Our Lady of Light Chapel at the De Sales Centre in Childs, Md. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Oblate Cemetery.

Father Gavin was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, N.J., on Aug. 7, 2004, after suffering a heart attack. He underwent quadruple bypass surgery on Aug. 9 and remained on a ventilator in the center’s Cardio-Vascular Intensive Care Unit until Sept. 17, at which time he was transferred to Temple University Hospital.

Father Gavin, a native of Philadelphia, served as a teacher, disciplinarian and vice principal at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria from 1964-70. He served as associate pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Vienna from 1975-76, and then came back to the parish as pastor in 1985. He continued in that capacity until 1991. He also served as associate pastor at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston from 1997-99.

John Gavin was born June 1, 1932, in Philadelphia. He graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1950 and entered the Oblates in June 1951. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Niagara University in 1957 and a master’s degree in history from Catholic University in 1961.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1960, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington by Bishop Michael W. Hyle. He taught at Northeast Catholic High School, Father Judge High School (both in Philadelphia) and De Sales High School in Lockport, N.Y., before arriving at Bishop Ireton.

Father Gavin was assigned to parishes in North Carolina and Pennsylvania in addition to his time in Virginia. He received a Bronze Star while serving as a U.S. Army Chaplain in Vietnam.

He is survived by two brothers: Frank of Glen Ridge, N.J. and Edmond of Philadelphia, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

The Oblates request that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to the Oblate Retirement Fund, 2200 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Del. 19806.