Rev. Kevin F. Dwyer, O.S.A., 89, of Andover, MA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Mary Immaculate Restorative Care Center with his devoted niece, Kathleen, by his side.
Father Dwyer was born in Boston, MA on April 18, 1936 to the late Francis L. and Helen R. (Donovan) Dwyer. The family resided on Tower Hill in Lawrence, MA where he attended St. Augustine’s Grammar School from 1941-1949. After graduating from St. John’s Prep in 1953, he attended Merrimack College for one year. His love for the Augustinians grew. He answered his vocation to become a priest and was received into the Order as a novice. After a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, he professed his first vows. He matriculated at Villanova University where he received a B.A in Philosophy in 1958. Father Dwyer professed his solemn vows on September 10, 1959. He then earned a master’s degree in History in 1961 followed by a master’s degree in Religious Studies at Augustinian College in Washington, D.C. He was ordained into the priesthood in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, Merrimack College by Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston on February 3, 1962.
Fr. Dwyer’s first assignment was to St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery. He taught at Villanova University for one year and in August of 1963, he returned to Merrimack College. For 48 years, he taught at Merrimack College where he holds the record for the longest uninterrupted service of an Augustinian Friar. Teaching was his passion and he gave his time freely. He served as Prior of the Monastery with twenty-eight priests in residence, Archivist of the College, and moderator of The Sailing Team. He served as an advisor to The Men of Merrimack, The Ladies of Merrimack, The Warrior (the school’s newspaper), the Class of 1967, and Phi Kappa Theta. He resided in the monastery and at times in student housing as the Chaplain in Residence where his door was always open. For ten years, Father Dwyer proudly served on The Board of Trustees at Villanova University. In 2007, Merrimack College bestowed an Honorary Doctorate upon him for which he was proud to accept on behalf of all the Augustinians who labored before him. For many years, Father Dwyer preached in several parishes for the foreign missions from the east coast to the mid-west. His numerous papers were published over the years and he finished his illustrious career as full professor in 2011. In retirement, he resided at St. Augustine’s Rectory in Andover, MA and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Father Dwyer was pre-deceased by his parents, Francis and Helen (Donovan) Dwyer and his sister, Margaret and her husband, Norman Dugas. He will be greatly missed by his sister, Mary and her husband, William Hickey of Plymouth, MA, and his four nieces: Lynne (Hickey) and her husband, Michael Faut of Duxbury, MA, Kathleen (Dugas) and her husband Scott Terceiro of Merrimac, MA, Maureen Hickey and her husband, Sean Morgan of Plymouth, MA, and Ellen (Hickey) and her husband, Brian Guinan of Duxbury, MA. He also leaves three grand nephews: William Faut, Patrick Guinan, and Colin Guinan, cousins, and several friends.
Funeral arrangements: Visiting Hours will be held from 4:00 - 8:00pm on Tuesday, August 26th in St. Augustine’s Church, 43 Essex Street, Andover.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am, Wednesday, August 27th in St. Augustine’s Church. Interment will be privately held. Donations in Fr. Dwyer’s memory may be sent to the:
Augustinian Fund, 214 Ashwood Road, Villanova, PA 19085