Reverend Doctor Richard Martin Turk

The Rev. Dr. Richard M. Turk went to be with the lord on …… Dr. Turk was born on August 5, 1939, in Perth Amboy, NJ, the second child of Martin S. Turk and Mary E. Karockai. He is predeceased by his parents, by his sister (Marion) and by his brother (Martin).

Dr. Turk is survived by his spouse of thirty-six years, The Rev. Davette L. Turk, as well as a son Richard Ryan Turk and daughter Sara Melissa Beasley, and four grandchildren (Mia, Jude, Liam, and Jillian)

Following graduation from St. Mary’s High School in Perth Amboy, Dr. Turk attended Seton Hall University for one year before transferring to St. Charles College, Catonsville, MD. He received his BA from St. Mary’s Seminary University in Baltimore, MD. In 1963, his M. Th. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1972, and his D. Min. from Columbia Theological in Decatur, GA, in 2002.

He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Trenton, NJ, May 20, 1967.

He served as Associate Pastor at St. Gregory the Great Church in Hamilton Township, NJ. (1967-1969.) In 1969 he was called to serve as Associate Pastor at Sacred Heart Church in New Brunswick, N.J. as well as Roman Catholic Chaplain to Douglas College, the Woman’s College of Rutgers. He authored a monthly radio program.

In 1973 he was called to serve as Chaplain to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Edison, NJ. While ministering at the high school, he also served as a member the football coaching staff and coached the Girl’s Varsity Softball Team.

Dr. Turk resigned from the Roman Catholic Priesthood in late 1974 and began work with “The Bridge,” a drug counseling program in Philadelphia, PA. In 1975 he was hired by the Philadelphia Urban Coalition to become Director of Counseling and Referral for the EX-Offender program which provided job training, and job placement for those who had been incarcerated at Graterford Penitentiary.

In 1976 Dr. Turk was called as Assistant to the Rector of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh, PA. and in 1978 his priestly orders were received by the Episcopal Church. While at St. Thomas, Dr. Turk began an educational ministry to the Norristown (PA) prison.

In 1980, Dr. Turk was called to serve as Canon Missionary to Victims of Crime and to the Incarcerated, serving on the staff of the Rt. Rev. Frank Cerveny, Bishop of Florida. Dr. Turk ministered at Florida State Prison, (including death row), at Union Correctional Institution, Lawtey Correctional Institution and other prisons in North Florida. During that period he received an award from the State of Florida for his prison ministry.

In 1986, Dr. Turk accepted a call to serve as Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. He also served as President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Florida, and as Dean of the Anglican Institute of Studies which he helped develop. He retired from St. Andrew’s in February of 2005 and began to teach at Florida State College at Jacksonville where he served until his death.

Dr. Turk had also served as a Board Member of Operation New Hope, on the Board of Habijax, and also as a volunteer at The Sanctuary and Triumph Church. Everyone who knew him also knew that he was a dedicated fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Ready4work program sponsored by Operation New Hope, or to the foundation of St. Andrew’s Episcopal church.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home 4115 Hendricks Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32207. (904) 346-3808. www.hardage-giddenshendricksave.com