Father Richard O.C.D.

YOUNGSTOWN - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Church in Canfield for Father Richard Madden, O.C.D., 88, who died peacefully Saturday at the Hospice House.

Father Madden was born Feb. 16, 1924, in Philadelphia, one of the seven sons of Jim and Ann Meehan Madden.

He attended seminary at the Holy Hill Monastery in Milwaukee, Wis., was ordained a Discalced Carmelite on Dec. 14, 1949, and then served as its Vocational Director. Father Madden also was a resident at the Carmelite Monastery in Washington D.C. while teaching at Catholic University.

In 1955, Father Madden was assigned the task of establishing a Carmelite Monastery in Youngstown, which he did on Volney Road on Youngstown's Southside, and the rest is history. The beautiful home that shared its backyard with Mill Creek Park became a place of reflection and community for not only members of the Carmelite Order but for many of the area faithful who would attend Mass there. It affectionately and reverently became known to everyone as the "Monastery."

Especially close to his heart was celebrating Christmas Eve Mass at Mr. Anthony's with thousands of area families.

Fr. Madden was a renowned teacher and lecturer, he gave hundreds of speeches and conducted numerous retreats throughout 48 of the 50 states and for the U.S. Air Force in Turkey. One of his proudest moments was giving a week long retreat for the prisoners at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary.

Fr. Madden authored three books, "Men in Sandals," "Life of Christ" and "A Boy in his Teens." He also published many articles in journals, newspapers and magazines including TIME, wrote a weekly advice column for Hi Time magazine for 16 years, which was read by millions of teenagers and was the editor of Mount Carmel Magazine. After his book, "Men in Sandals," appeared on the best sellers list, he was invited to appear on the Jack Parr Show, but his priestly duties prevented the national television appearance.

Fr. Madden offered the opening prayer for the opening session of the U.S. House of Representatives, receiving a Certificate of Recognition by the Speaker of the House and was invited to the Reagan Presidential Inauguration.

In addition to his many duties as a priest, Fr. Madden served the community as President and Chairman of the board of the WRTA, operation supervisor for the U.S. Census for Mahoning and Trumbull counties, hosted the Youngstown Safety Councils monthly radio show, was defensive driving instructor, served as chaplain for the Youngstown Fire Department, was a member of the Youngstown Drug Commission and was a member of the Youngstown Air Base Council. As a member of the Air Base Council Fr. Madden was instrumental in procuring air transport for the locally based charity "Mission of Love." Father also was a member of the National Speakers Association and Kiwanis International.

Always active, Fr. Madden had earned his private pilots license, played golf and tennis, and enjoyed skiing and scuba diving. He was also an active member of the Youngstown YMCA, where he swam 20 laps every weekday.

One of his prized awards was the Don Bosco Award for his National Influence over Catholic youth, which he received along with Gil McDougal of the New York Yankees and Floyd Patterson, the then World Heavy-weight champion.

He will be sorely missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his six brothers.

It is requested that material tributes take the form of donations to the Hospice House in Father Madden's memory.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at St. Michael Church in Canfield.

Professional arrangements are by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Boardman-Canfield Chapel.