Richard Mark Heath

HEATH, O.P. Fr. Richard Mark Heath, O.P., died on December 4, 2005 at the Mohun Health Care Center of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs. He received the loving care of the Dominican Sisters and staff of Mohun Hall from June of 2003 until his death in 2005. Father is survived by only one sister, Mrs. Leslie Costello of Winchester, Mass. Predeceased by two Dominican brothers Rev. Walter J. Heath, O.P. and Rev. Thomas R. Heath, O.P., 1 sister Maryknoll Sister Mary Leslie Heath, M.M. and his parents. Father was born in Boston (Jamaica Plain), Mass. on April 20, 1918 to Leslie John Heath and Genevieve (Eva) Isabella Stapleton. He attended St. Joseph Grammar School in Somerville, Mass. from 1924-1930. He attended St. Joseph High School and then Somerville High School from 1930-1935. Father attended Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass. from 1935-1936 and the U.S. Naval Academy from 1936-1940. Father entered the Dominican Novitiate at St. Rose Priory in Springfield, Ky. in 1940. He made his simple profession on August 16, 1941 and his solemn profession on August 16, 1944. Father was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1947 at St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C. by the Most Rev. Archbishop Amleto G. Cicognani. Father obtained his philosophical and theological degrees from St. Joseph Priory, Somerset, Oh. and the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C. He obtained his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas, Angelicum, in Rome in 1952. Father served most of his priesthood in the academic field. From 1948-1949 Father was assigned to St. Joseph Priory in Somerset, Oh. where he served as professor of philosophy. He then served as professor at the College Notre Dame of Maryland/Dunbarton College, Washington, D.C. from 1951-1952. From 1952-1967 Father served as professor at LaSalle College in Philadelphia, Pa. From 1967-1973 Father served as professor at Providence College, Providence, R.I. In 1973 Father was named the Director of the Washington Theological Consortium, a cooperative group of Catholic and Protestant seminaries in the greater Washington area. Changes necessary for the accreditation for the theology program of the Consortium were achieved under Fr. Heath's stewardship. In 1988-1991 Father served as prior at St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville, Ky. From 1976-1985 Father served as the Regent of Studies from the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, and professor of theology for the Permanent Deaconate Program for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1991 Father served as Director of Development, Pontifical Faculty, Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C. In April of 1998 Fr. Heath was awarded the St. Dominic Medal for his long and dedicated service to the students and faculty at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C. In 1999 due to failing health Father was assigned to St. Dominic Priory, Washington, D.C. as a resident at the Center for Assisted Living, and then Carroll Manor, Washington, D.C. Father was moved to Mohun Health Care Facility in Columbus, Oh. in June of 2003 and remained there until his death. Father's body will be received at St. Patrick Church, Columbus, Oh. at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 and will be waked there until the Office of the Dead is celebrated in the Church at 7 p.m. Viewing at Mohun Health Care Facility will be take place on Wednesday, December 7 at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. celebrated at Mohun Hall Chapel by the Very Rev. Raymond Daley, O.P., Vicar Provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Dominican plot at St. Joseph Cemetery in Somerset, Oh. Funeral arrangements are being handled by EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 403 E. Broad St., Columbus, Oh. Visit www.egan-ryan.com for condolences.