Fr. John Baptist Riordan, OFM Cap

Residing with the friar community of St Clare in Yonkers, NY, he was temporarily living at Cabrini Nursing Facility in Dobbs Ferry, NY at the time of his death. Fr. John Baptist is survived by his first cousin, Eileen McEnaney of Rockville Centre, NY.

Born in Woodhaven, Queens, NY on July 28, 1945 to Francis Riordan and Elizabeth McGarrigle, he was baptized Francis Xavier. Shortly after his sister Elizabeth Anne was born into the family, with whom he was particularly close until her death in 2006. Francis entered the Capuchin novitiate on August 11, 1963 and received the religious name, 'John Baptist'. After studies he was ordained to the priesthood on September 1, 1971.

Fr. John Baptist served as a parish priest and pastor, a guardian of Capuchin houses, spiritual assistant to Secular Franciscans, vocation director, guidance counselor, a high school teacher, a college professor and a campus minister. In addition, while ministering at St. John the Baptist Church in midtown Manhattan he particularly enjoyed serving as chaplain of ‘People on the Move’ which consisted of members of the Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey Circus. He also looked forward each year to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in which he enthusiastically participated as a balloon handler.

JB or ‘Bappy’, as he was affectionately called by the friars, was a well-known fixture on the streets of his beloved New York City and Yonkers, friendly to all and always seeking the lonely, lost and forgotten to discover how best he could minister to them.

Fr. John Baptist will be waked from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, February 3 at Sacred Heart Church, 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, NY 10703. The funeral Mass will then begin at 11 a.m., with burial to follow.

Donations in Fr. John Baptist’s name can be made out to the Province of St. Mary and sent to the Capuchin Development Office at 110 Shonnard Pl., Yonkers, NY 10703 or can made online at capuchin.org/support.