Rev. Francis Frank C. Cronin

June 17, 1931 - August 2, 2009

06/17/1931 - 08/02/2009

Past Services

Cemetery
Monday August 03, 2009
Highland Cemetery
P.O. Box 394
Mt. Pleasant, OH 43939
740-769-2100 Ro | Directions
Visitation
Wednesday August 05, 2009
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Lafferty, OH 43951
Directions
Service
Thursday August 06, 2009
11:00 am
St. Mary Catholic Church
350 E. 40th Street
Shadyside, OH 43947
740-676-3282 | Directions

Reverend Francis Frank C. Cronin, a retired priest and a member of the presbyterate of the Diocese of Steubenville, died at his Shadyside home, Sunday, August 2, 2009 after a short illness. He was 78 years old.

Fr. Cronin was born June 17, 1931 in Dover, Massachusetts, a son of the late Jeremiah and Delia Fahey Cronin.

He attended Maryknoll Seminary in Lakewood, New Jersey, Maryknoll Seminary in New York and St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, MD. He was ordained by Bishop John King Mussio on May 21, 1958 at Holy Name Cathedral.

Father Cronin’s first assignment was assistant at St. Mary Church and principal of St. Mary Central High School in Marietta. He served as deanery director of Catholic Youth Organization of Assumption Deanery, principal at Seten Catholic Central High School in Lafferty, director of the Catholic Student Center in Athens, assistant and later pastor at St. Paul, Athens, administrator of Christ the King Parish in Athens, St. Henry, Harriettsville and St. Joseph, Burkhart. He served on a variety of committees throughout his priesthood, including the committee of Research for Federal Benefits, Steubenville Register Advisory and Control Board, Diocesan Ecumenical Commission and as a synodal examiner.

Father Cronin especially loved teaching. He was a tenured English professor at Ohio University in Athens from 1966 until August of 2000 when he returned again to active ministry for the Diocese of Steubenville as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Shadyside and at St. John Vianney Parish in Powhatan Point. He served these two parishes until October 2007 when he retired.

A sister Ann Latosek preceded him in death, in addition to his parents.

Surviving are a brother Paul Cronin of Rectortown, VA. and a sister Mary Albert Callelo of Dover, Massachusetts, many nieces and nephews.

Father Cronin’s visitation will begin with a receiving service in St. Mary’s Catholic Church East 40th Street Shadyside at 1p.m. Wednesday with visitation until 8p.m., the Vigil service will be held at 3:45p.m.

Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated at 11a.m. Thursday with the Most Reverend R. Daniel Conlon DD JCD PhD as celebrant.

Interment will be in Highland Cemetery Dover, Massachusetts.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church CCD program.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at altmeyer.com

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Sarah Ditka
8 years ago

Father Cronin was my favorite professor at Ohio University. I majored in English Lit and had a number of classes with Father Frank. I spent hours in his office discussing the Bible, morality, and life in general. He always had wise words and a very warm smile for everyone. He always reminded me of the “skinny Santa” from the Rudolph Christmas special. As I now have small children, I will think of Father Cronin each Christmas as we watch the special. He was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed. Thanks to his family for sharing him with us.

Gerald Elliott
8 years ago

Father Frank was a friend to all he met. We have very fond memories of our many discussions on several topics dear to his heart religion and exercise. We will miss his kind words and seeing him jog through our parking lot. Jerry, Ashley, Derek, Jodi, Wendy and Fran at Chase Bank.

Henry and Suzanne Croci
8 years ago

Fr.Cronin was our pastor and friend at Christ The King Parish in Athens Ohio.He baptized and confirmed both our children, and was our spiritual mentor along with Fr. Don Horak.He was a wonderful priest and we’re sure he’s in heaven right now.We were blessed to have knowm him,and we remember his many good deeds.Our prayers are with you all.

Barbara Mazzocca
8 years ago

I have known Fr. Cronin since I was 10 years old, growing up in Athens, OH. He was truly a man of great faith and loved others as Christ did. I have been truly blessed to have had such a holy person in my life. I learned so much from him. I will miss his warm smile and hearty handshake! I know that he is now rejoicing in God’s light and love.

Amy Lilly
8 years ago

I was a member of St Mary’s Church growing up and anytime I would visit my family we would attend mass. Father Cronin was a wonderful man and I am truly lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know him. I have a strong Faith and I feel part of it is because of him. He officiated my wedding and also worked with me in order to seek an anullment when my marriage was not a success. He was great to my family and to me. He really was a man of God. He was so happy to be a Priest, he never should have been made to retire. I will keep all of his friends and family in my thoughts and prayers.

Marlyn C. Marling
8 years ago

Little did I know the day after Fr. Cronin went to heaven my mother would die the next morning. My mom was 85 and I loved her dearly. I just want the Cronin family to know that when I met Fr. Cronin I was very impressed with his gentleness and vast knowledge of history. I will remember him.

Jim Fuller
8 years ago

There are so many thoughts and feelings that emerge when I think of Father Frank. His knowledge, his very dry sense of humor, his homilies that somehow ended on a note fairly close to the gospel reading of the day, but mostly his friendship and the example he held high for all of us to follow.

The Rogers Family
8 years ago

We have lost a priest, a teacher, an Irish wit, a mentor and a friend. Our lives are richer and fuller for his having been a part of them. Our thanks to the Cronin family for sharing, so generously, his time, his talent and his love of humanity.

We’ll never see a carrot cake that we don’t think of him. He once noted, “Not only is it my favorite cake, but with the white frosting, the orange carrots and the green leaves it has all the colors of the flag of the Irish Republic!”

May God always be good to our friend and priest, Fr. Francis C. Cronin, Ph.D.

Chip and Terri Rogers and all the Rogers family