Rev. Martin Bryan Hitchcock

Rev. Martin Bryan Hitchcock, 88, of Hilton Head Island, SC, died March 12, 2014.At the time of his retirement in 1991, Father Hitchcock was pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Greenwich, CT, where he had served since 1971. His ordination to the priesthood took place at Saint Joseph Cathedral, Hartford, CT, on May 3, 1951.He studied philosophy and theology at Saint Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, MD, and later did graduate studies at Manhattanville College, NY, the Sorbonne, France, and St. Pierre de Solesmes, Solesmes, France. He also studied organ performance in Belgium with the legendaryMarcel Dupré. His first assignment as an assistant pastor was at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Washington, CT. He also served in the same capacity at the following parishes: Saint James, Stratford; Saint Peter, Danbury; Saint Mary, Bethel and Saint Joseph, Shelton. Father Hitchcock was appointed assistant superintendent of Catholic Schools in 1964 while in residence at Saint Lawrence, Huntington and superintendent in 1967, while in residence at Notre Dame, Easton. He also served as a Diocesan Consultor, Chairperson of the Diocesan Committee for Sacred Liturgy, Music and Art and member of the Priest Council. He ministered among students on the campus of the Teachers College in Danbury, now Western Connecticut State University. Father Hitchcock is survived by his nephews Cornish F. Hitchcock, of Washington DC, Timothy A. Hitchcock of East Canaan, CT, and Martin F. Hitchcock of Canaan, CT, and his niece Elizabeth Hitchcock of Lake Bluff, IL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday April 1, 2014, at 10:00 AM, at Saint Mary Church, 178 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT, with interment at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Canaan, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Martin B. Hitchcock Memorial Fund of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nationalmssociety.org. Leo Gallagher Funeral Home in Greenwich is assisting the family with arrangements. The Island Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of local arrangements. www.theislandfunealhome.com.