Father John Gauci dies at 87

Father John Gauci died on April 5, 2020, at age 87. He was born on June 12, 1932 in New York City, the son of Alfred Gauci and Antonia Barbara. He attended St. Cecilia’s Elementary School in Manhattan and St. Mary’s in North East, Pennsylvania, 1951-1953.

He made his novitiate at St. Mary’s in Ilchester, Maryland, and was professed August 2, 1954. He was ordained at Mount St. Alphonsus in Esopus, New York, on June 21, 1959.

His first assignment was to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, beginning June 12, 1961. In 1965 he was transferred to St. Patrick’s Parish in Frederiksted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

In 1967 he moved to the Parish in Caguas, Puerto Rico then returned to the Virgin Island in 1970, serving in St. Thomas. In 1974 he was transferred to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Four years later he returned to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and in 1979 went back to Caguas. From 1985 to 1987 he served in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico.

From 1987 1989 he served as the archivist at the Provincial Residence. In 1989 Father Gauci was at the General Government in Rome, working with the archives. Afterward the General Government appointed him as assistant secretary general, and he served in that office until 1993. He continued to work for the General Government for four months each year for the following ten years.

In 1990 to 1996 he moved back to his role as archivist in the Provincial Residence.

The years 1998 to 2000 found Father Gauci suffering from various health issues and spending time at St. John Neuman Residence in Saratoga Springs, New York.

In 2002 he returned to the Baltimore Province and was assigned to St. Cecilia’s Parish in Manhattan. In 2003 he reported to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn for assisted living. In 2015 he moved to St. John Neumann Residence at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic no visitation or wake was held after his death.