Richard Purcell

Father Richard Patrick Purcell, OFM Died August 4, 2011 at Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco, surrounded by loving caregivers, family, fellow friars and other friends, Richard Patrick Purcell peacefully moved on to new life on August 4, 2011. He had been living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Lou Gehrig's disease for the past five years. Richard was born November 7, 1938 to George Joseph Purcell and Mary Louise Miles in Helena, Montana, where he spent his youth. In 1960, he left Helena to join the St. Barbara Province of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). He was ordained a priest in 1968. Richard lived and worked for the next 20 years on the Papago and Pima Indian reservations in southern Arizona. He came to San Francisco in June, 1989 to care for his brother, Marty, who was dying of AIDS. After Marty's death, Richard stayed on in his brother's apartment to begin a new ministry to homeless people with AIDS. Then, in 1993, after four years in the original "Marty's Place," Richard formed the nonprofit Aurora Dawn Foundation (ADF), and moved Marty's Place into a beautiful old Victorian house in the Mission District. Aurora Dawn/Marty's Place received no funding from the church or government; it was run entirely on generous private donations. Richard's philosophy was that: "The homeless, the sick and the rejected among us deserve more than scraps, crumbs and leftovers. They deserve choice and preferential treatment. All it takes is love." Richard's work here continued on for the next 20 + years until he moved to Coming Home Hospice in May. The Board of Directors of ADF/Marty's Place decided to give the house to Dolores Street Community Services. Aurora Dawn Foundation will then be dissolved, but Dolores Street will carry on the same mission of providing housing for people who are ill and who would otherwise be homeless. The home will continue to be known as "Marty's Place." Richard was blessed with many natural gifts and talents. Throughout his life, he produced many paintings, drawings, sculptures, and silver work. As pastor and teacher, he blessed others with his creative speaking and writing skills. He was the eternal optimist, always inspiring others not to give up along the way. Richard changed many lives with his compassion and steadfast encouragement. His ability to laugh at just about anything (including himself) endeared him to most all who met him. His iconoclastic bent and irreverent sense of humor sometimes caused him to be at odds with those in authority. His Franciscan brothers were always accepting and supportive of his nonconformist ways. Even those who did not agree with him understood that his actions sprang from his deeply felt hunger for justice and peace. Family was very important to Richard. He is preceded in death by his father George Purcell (1992), his mother Mary Louise Miles Purcell (1969), his brother Martin Purcell in 1989, and his sister Cathleen Purcell Humphrey in 1997. He is survived by his sister Marjory Purcell Yeager (James) of Seal Beach CA, his brothers William Purcell (Joyce) of Helena MT, David Purcell (Laurie) of Billings MT, Thomas Purcell of Denver, CO, and step brother Dick Alberts of Helena, MT, along numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. Richard's family was always a great source of joy and encouragement to him. Richard deeply loved and appreciated the group he called his the "Guardian Angels" (including his dog Plumita and pussy Pinto) who surrounded him during his illness, caring for all his needs night and day. A celebration of his life will be held at 10am on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at St. Boniface Church, 133 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. Burial of his ashes will take place on the Gila River Pima Indian reservation in Arizona. Memorial gifts may be sent to Marty's Place, c/o Dolores Street Community Services, 938 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.