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Rev. Joseph A. Coyne, O.S.A. (1907-1987)

Rev. Joseph A. Coyne, O.S.A. entered eternal life November 2, 1987.

Joseph Aloysius Coyne was born December 2, 1907 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, to Thomas P. and Mary (Finnerty) Coyne.

After graduation in 1927 from Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, Joseph was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 8, 1927. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 9, 1928 and solemn (permanent) vows September 9, 1932. He was ordained a Priest June 11, 1935.

He earned a B. A. from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1932. He then did theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., from 1932 to 1936. He received an M.S. in Physics from Villanova College, Villanova, in 1957. He did further study at Catholic University of America, Washington; Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois; University of Chicago, Chicago; Case Institute of Technology, Cleveland, Ohio; Tulsa University, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Father Coyne taught in the 1936 summer session at Villanova College, his alma mater, then was assigned to St. Rita High School, Chicago, as a Teacher. When the new Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel (Augustinians of the Midwest) was founded in 1941, he was affiliated to that Province.

In 1958 and 1959 he served as Pastor of St. Matthew Catholic Parish, Flint, Michigan. He was a Teacher at Cascia Hall School, Tulsa, from 1959 to 1965. He was Director of Development at St. Rita High School, Chicago, from 1965 to 1967.

He served as Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Champaign, Illinois in 1967. Later that year he was assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Gregory Catholic Parish, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. He was also Prior (local superior) of the Augustinian community in Cambridge.

In 1975 Father Coyne became a Senior Friar. He resided at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, Illinois. In retirement he was active in public relations work for the Province and in support of the Augustinian Missions in Peru.

Father Coyne in 1982 returned to St. Matthew Parish, Flint, where he engaged in a limited parish ministry.

For a number of years, Father Coyne had been suffering from cancer, which resulted in a cerebral vascular stroke November 2, 1987 shortly after he had completed a celebration of Eucharist at St. Matthew Church.

Father Coyne is remembered for his no-nonsense approach to life situations and his deep commitment to the Augustinian Missions in Peru.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, Tolentine Center, 20300 Governors Hwy., Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1081.