November 04, 2019
Rev. Edward R. Daley, O.P. ’46 & ’81Hon.; former chair of PC Corporation
Rev. Edward Raymond Daley, O.P. ’46 & ’81Hon., former chair of the Corporation of Providence College, died May 17, 2019.
Father Daley spent two years in the Guzman Hall pre-ecclesiastical program at PC before embarking on a life in the priesthood. He later returned to PC to serve as the chair of the Corporation of Providence College and received an honorary doctorate in sacred theology.
A priest for 66 years, Father Daley was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1952, at St. Dominic’s Church, Washington, D.C., by the Most Rev. Patrick A. O’Boyle, the Archbishop of Washington. He was assigned to St. Vincent Ferrer Priory, New York, N.Y., for 20 years, where he served St. Joseph’s Province.
In 1976, Father Daley was appointed superior of the Dominican Friars’ community at Holy Innocents Rectory in Pleasantville, N.Y. He was appointed pastor of the parish a year later. Four years later, Father Daley was elected prior provincial of St. Joseph’s Province, headquartered at St. Vincent Ferrer Priory.
After serving two terms as prior provincial, Father Daley then transitioned to New York University, where he served as director of the university’s Catholic Center. During his six years at the school, Father Daley hosted a Sunday morning radio show explaining the Catholic faith.
He returned to his position of superior at Holy Innocents in 1994 and was again appointed pastor a year later. Father Daley was then assigned, in 2001, as motherhouse chaplain for the Sparkill (N.Y) Dominican Sisters.
Father Daley then served two more years as provincial socius and vicar provincial for St. Joseph’s Province at St. Vincent Ferrer Priory.
Father Daley is survived by a sister, Ruth Sharkey of Watchung, N.J., and her family, including his niece, Ann T. McCormick ’82.
His life was celebrated with a Mass of Christian Burial on May 3 in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas on PC’s campus. Burial was in the Dominican Friars section of St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.
