Rev. Anthony Gulley, 83

A funeral Mass was offered Aug. 26 at Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, for Rev. Anthony Gulley, who died Aug. 21. He was 83 and had been a priest of the Albany Diocese for 56 years.

A native of Watervliet, he spent his entire ministry as a priest and an educator: He was associate pastor at St. Francis de Sales and St. Ann's parishes in Albany and on the faculty of Cardinal McCloskey High School, then a professor in the education department of The College of Saint Rose in Albany and chaplain for St. Anne Institute in Albany. He also served at St. Matthew's parish in Voorheesville and St. Margaret Mary in Albany. While still teaching, he became chaplain for Villa Mary Immaculate Nursing Home. He was also chaplain for LaSalle School in Albany and the Knights of Columbus and diocesan director of motion pictures.

In 2001, he retired from teaching; until 2004, he lived at St. Mary's parish in Amsterdam, where his brother, Rev. James Gulley, was pastor.

For a priest who spent his life speaking in classrooms, Father Anthony was rarely interviewed in The Evangelist. However, the Gulley brothers wrote a book called "Service to the People" about another priest of the Albany Diocese, Msgr. Edward R. Glavin; speaking about the book, Father Anthony called Msgr. Glavin "a remarkable man" and said people should know "what a kind and loving man Msgr. Glavin was."

It seems others would use similar words in describing Father Anthony himself. In fact, in 2008, Christian Brothers Academy in Albany did just that when the school named a scholarship in the Gulley brothers' honor, calling them "two wonderful men who exemplify the priesthood."

Father Anthony has surely earned his rest in the arms of God. Survivors include Rev. James Gulley, now retired. Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Troy.[[In-content Ad]]