SPRINGFIELD – The Most Reverend Joseph F. Maguire, retired Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, passed into Eternal Life on Sunday evening, November 23, 2014 from his residence on Elliot Street in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his dedicated caregivers. He was 95 years old and in the 70th year of his priesthood and 43rd year as a bishop. Born September 4, 1919 in the Mission Hill section of Roxbury in Boston, he was the beloved son of the late Joseph T. Maguire and Grace (Wenger) Maguire, both of Boston. Raised in Boston, he graduated from St. Columbkille elementary and high schools in Brighton and went on to attend Boston College, where he was a stand-out baseball and hockey player. During his time at college, the hockey team went on to a 13-1 record and won the Eastern Championship. In 1984, he was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, he enrolled at St. John Seminary in Brighton and, on June 29, 1945, was ordained a priest by the late Cardinal Richard Cushing, Archbishop of Boston. His parish assignments included St. Joseph in Lynn, St. Ann in Readville, Blessed Sacrament in Jamaica Plain where he served from 1948 to 1960, and St. Mary of the Hills in Milton. From 1956 until 1959, he also served as Catholic Chaplain in the Massachusetts Army National Guard with the rank of Captain. As a young and active priest, he often returned to his childhood neighborhood where he was known by family and friends as “Uncle Joe.” He would throw a baseball, football or swing a bat with the neighborhood kids. In 1962, Cardinal Cushing named him to serve as his priest secretary. During that time, the Cardinal honored him with the title of Monsignor. After the Cardinal passed away, he served for a brief time as secretary to Cardinal Humberto Medeiros before returning to parish ministry as Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Quincy. On February 2, 1972, he was named an Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, overseeing the Brockton region. In 1976, he was named by Blessed Pope Paul VI as Coadjutor Bishop of Springfield to assist and work in transition with then Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon. With Bishop Weldon’s retirement on October 15, 1977, Bishop Maguire became the Fifth Bishop of Springfield. He was formally installed during a televised ceremony on November 4, 1977 held at the Springfield Civic Center before a capacity congregation of clergy, religious and laity. Long known for his pleasant and outgoing demeanor, Bishop Maguire quickly became loved by his new diocesan family, earning the name “the people’s bishop.” He made it a goal to attend as many diocesan, parish and community functions as possible, always wanting to be with the people he was called to serve. As bishop, he sought to transform the diocesan church to be more responsive to the needs of the faithful. He created the Communications, Pastoral Ministry and Youth Ministry offices, as well as brought the RENEW program to the diocese and welcomed the resettlement of refugees from Poland, Southeast Asia, Cuba, Haiti and Ethiopia. He revamped the former Catholic Charities Drive into the Catholic Stewardship Appeal and, working with the Passionist Fathers and Brothers, created the first Diocesan Communications Office. He was ahead of his time in recognizing the importance of the media and had an exceptional relationship with the news media, always agreeing to an interview no matter the time of day. He also instituted the Permanent Diaconate Program in the diocese which has steadily grown throughout the years. Under his tenure, the Apostolate for Black Catholics was formed along with plans to expand outreach to the Hispanic Catholic population. Wherever there was a need for the Church’s presence, Bishop Maguire sought to compassionately respond. He was also recognized for his leadership in the extended community. He served as a longtime Chaplain to the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, a role he served in homage to his own father who was a Boston Police Detective Sergeant. He also was actively involved in ecumenical and interfaith activities. In 1986, he was awarded the National Conference of Christians and Jews Human Relations Award. Then Springfield Mayor, Theodore Dimauro, said Bishop Maguire was “one of the most respected and beloved clergymen that we have had come to Springfield.” The Massachusetts Knights of Columbus honored him with the Lantern Award in 1978 and the Holyoke Saint Patrick Parade Committee honored him with their prestigious John F. Kennedy Award in 1983. On the national stage, Bishop Maguire served on the Communications Committee of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops and the committee overseeing the sainthood cause of the late Bishop Fulton Sheen. Bishop Maguire worried that changes in society were disrupting the foundation of the faith community so, in 1985, he authored “Enduring Love: An Advent Reflection,” focusing on the need to better prepare for Christmas by refocusing on its true message. During his final years as Bishop of Springfield, he began to recognize the looming challenges facing the diocese with fewer priests and smaller parish communities. During this time, he initiated the process of yoking parishes by sharing a pastor. In one of his last major undertakings before retiring, he raised over ten million dollars through the Legacy of Faith – Legacy of Love Campaign. These funds were used to create both an endowment to help support diocesan ministries and to renovate the former Beaven Building on Elliot Street, allowing for a consolidation of all the various diocesan central agencies, ministries and services. Fittingly, the building now bears his name, the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Pastoral Center. In response to a letter he had quietly sent to the Vatican months before, Pope John Paul II accepted his retirement on December 27, 1991 and named Bishop John A. Marshall of Burlington, VT as Bishop Maguire’s successor. Turning down offers to move back to the Archdiocese of Boston in retirement, he chose to stay in Springfield with those he had grown closest to over the years. Freed from administrative duties, he focused on doing what he enjoyed most, being with people. With his faithful driver, the late Joseph Boudreau, he attended numerous functions and made new friends as the goodwill ambassador for the diocese. He also found time to root for his favorite New England sports teams as well as maintaining a special fondness for his beloved Boston College Eagles. Retirement also meant enjoying more time with his family whom he dearly loved. He enjoyed spending time with his sister, Grace B. Waystack who was both his greatest friend and confidant. Her death in 2012 left a tremendous void in his life. He loved days spent surrounded by his nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. He was also predeceased by his beloved nephew, Paul J. Waystack in 1992; as well as his friend and brother-in-law, Philip R. Waystack who died in 1998. Bishop Maguire leaves his devoted nephews and nieces, Philip R. Waystack, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, of Colebrook, NH, Joan Kenney (wife of Paul) of Boston, Mary W. Banks and her husband, Harold, of West Falmouth, Richard J. Waystack and his wife, Bernadette, of Harwich Port, and Joseph F. Waystack of Plymouth; his seven cherished grandnieces and grandnephews, Sarah C. Banks, Harold V. Banks, III, Christopher R. Waystack, Kateri G. Seeley and her husband, Nicholas, Melissa J. Carman, Emily J. Waystack and Benjamin J. Waystack; and his cherished great grandniece, Juliet Grace Seeley. The family also wishes to acknowledge his dear friend, Fr. Francis X. Sullivan as well as Mrs. Ronnie Donohue and Sr. Patricia Francis Sharron, SSJ who served him faithfully for so many years. They are also deeply grateful to Bishops Mitchell Rozanski and Timothy McDonnell, as well as Msgr. Christopher Connelly for their compassionate and thoughtful care of their uncle in his final years along with special gratitude to the staff at Elliot Street as well as the loving caregivers from Murphy-Avis Assisted Living Services for their love, encouragement and support. The Rite of Reception will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2014 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at The Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel, 254 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Following the Rite of Reception, Bishop Maguire will Lie in State at the Cathedral from 1:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. followed by a Prayer Vigil Service at 7 p.m. A Pontifical Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Monday morning, December 1, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral. The Rite of Committal and Entombment will follow the Mass at Saint Michael the Archangel Mausoleum, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Bishop Maguire’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bishop Maguire’s memory to the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Scholarship Fund, c/o Diocese of Springfield, PO Box 1730, Springfield, MA 01102-1730. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com