Father George St. John, 93

Father George Guinan St. John, a priest in the Diocese of Albany for 68 years, died Dec. 2 in the Rectory of Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany at the age of 93.

Father St. John was born in Troy on June 22, 1927, the son of George D. and Mae E. Guinan St. John. He was raised and educated in Troy, was a graduate of St. Peter’s School and Catholic Central High School — where he was the president of his graduating class — and later attended St. Andrew’s Seminary in Rochester and St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. Father St. John was ordained a priest on June 7, 1952, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany by Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons. In 1960, Father St. John earned a master’s degree in education from Siena College. 

His first assignment was at Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany and from there he was assigned to St. Margaret of Cortona Church in Rotterdam Junction. Father St. John later served as chaplain for the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Albany while simultaneously serving as chaplain at the Albany Medical Center Hospital. Father St. John had served as principal of St. Patrick’s Central Catholic High School in Catskill and as pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Catskill, St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls and, most recently, at Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush.

He served in the diocesan posts of director of Religious Education, director of Radio and Television Broadcasting and director of Priest Personnel.
Following his retirement, Father St. John resided at Blessed Sacrament and continued to serve at Blessed Sacrament Church and throughout the Diocese.

Father St. John is survived by his beloved sister, Joan Couture of East Greenbush; and nieces and nephews: Linda Strocky, MaryAnne, Jeanne, Laurie, Raymond and Stephen Couture. He was preceded in death by his brother, T. Donald St. John.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Dec. 14 at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger presiding. Following the Mass, interment followed at the St. John family plot in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Troy.