Msgr. Donald W. Hendricks, of the Cardinal O’Connor Residence in Riverdale, New York, entered Eternal Rest on Tuesday, May 17.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Dougherty Hendricks and Russell Hendricks, as well as his brothers, John, Thomas and Robert. 

Msgr. Hendricks, who was born and raised in the Bronx, followed his uncles, Msgr. John Dougherty and Msgr. Daniel Dougherty, and his aunt Catherine (Sister Mary Daniel) into the service of the church. He attended Saint Joseph’s Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1955. His elevation to Monsignor took place in 1995.

He received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Cathedral College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Classics from Columbia University. While serving as Chairman of the Department of Classics in Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception, he was chosen by the Archdiocese of New York to write the section on post-Vatican II Catholic thought for Leo Rosten’sReligions of America. He taught at Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Douglaston (1968-77); Cathedral College in Manhattan (1963-68); and at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx (1957-61).

Msgr. Hendricks retired as pastor and administrator of St. Christopher’s in Buchanan NY, where he served from 1993 to 2009. His previous priestly assignments were parochial vicar (1977-81) and pastor (1981-93), St. Anthony of Padua, Yonkers; parochial vicar, St. Athanasius, Harriman, (1963); St. Eugene’s, Yonkers (1957); Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck (1955-57); and St. Mary’s, Newburgh (1955).

Uncle Donald leaves behind his brother Robert’s wife June and their children, Maureen Messina (Gil) and daughters Anna and Katherine of Colts Neck, NJ; Russell and sons John and Thomas of Rumson, NJ; Robert (Lisa) and children Jake and Ruthann of Howell, NJ; Elizabeth Selsky (Mitchell) and children Michael, Rachel and Kevin of Brick, NJ; Daniel (Karianne) and daughter Aidan of Dallas, TX; and Catherine Gotta (Mark) and children Casey and Ryan of Howell, NJ; as well as brother John’s wife Doris, their daughter Irene (John Eno) and daughters Caroline and Lauren of New Canaan, CT; and brother Thomas’s son George and daughter Julia Hendricks-Mueller (John) and daughter Mary Rose.

Reposing Sunday 2-6pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx NY. Mass of Christian Burial Monday 10am at St. Margaret of Cortona Church. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

It is impossible, in a few short lines, to honor the life and work of this remarkable priest and family man. For him, those things were the same. His devotion to the Church and its work was as important as the regular phone calls to his beloved family and cherished friends. Requiescat in pace.