St. John, Reverend George Guinan
— Reverend George Guinan St. John, a priest of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese, passed peacefully from this life into eternal life on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, in the Rectory of Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany. He was 93 years of age.
Father St. John was born in Troy, on June 22, 1927 to his parents, George D. and Mae E. Guinan St. John. Raised and educated in Troy, he was a graduate of St. Peter’s School and Catholic Central High School, where he was the president of his graduating class, and later attended St. Andrew’s Seminary in Rochester, N.Y. and St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y. Father St. John, in 1960, earned a master’s degree in Education from Siena College in Loudonville.
Father St. John was ordained a priest on June 7, 1952, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany by the Most Reverend Edmund F. Gibbons, sixth Bishop of Albany. His first assignment was at Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany and from there he was assigned to St. Margaret of Cortona Church in Rotterdam Junction. Father St. John later served as Chaplain for the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Albany while simultaneously serving as Chaplain at the Albany Medical Center Hospital. Father St. John had served as Principal of St. Patrick’s Central Catholic High School in Catskill and as pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Catskill, St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls and most recently at Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush. He served in the diocesan posts of Director of Religious Education, Director of Radio and Television Broadcasting, and Director of Priest Personnel. Following his retirement, Father St. John resided at Blessed Sacrament Rectory in Albany and continued to serve at Blessed Sacrament Church and throughout the Albany Diocese.
Father St. John is survived by his dear sister, Joan Couture of East Greenbush; his loving nieces and nephews, Linda Strocky, Maryanne, Jeanne and Laurie Couture; Raymond
Laurie Couture; Raymond and Stephen Couture. He was preceded in death by his brother, T. Donald St. John.
Father St. John will be received into Blessed Sacrament Church, 607 Central Ave., Albany, on Sunday, December 13, at 3 p.m. and public visitation will continue until 6 p.m. Those attending are asked to please only enter the church from the Hunter Avenue parking lot doorway. In accordance with safety guidelines relating to the current COVID-19 pandemic, family, friends and guests are requested to wear facial coverings and observe social distancing requirements at all services and venues.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 14, at 10 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany with the Most Reverend Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D., Bishop of Albany, presiding.
Following the Mass, the Rite of Committal and interment will take place in the St. John family plot in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Troy,
For those who wish to express their sympathy and remember Father St. John in a special way, donations, in his memory, may be made to: the Priests’ Retirement Fund, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY 12203 or to Blessed Sacrament Church, 607 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206 or to Holy Spirit Church, 667 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY 12061.
Visit parkerbrosmemorial. com to leave a message of sympathy, a memory, and for driving directions.
A music enthusiast, he played guitar and sang in the band, The Zookeepers.
He also enjoyed horseshoes, horseracing, grilling and making his special sauce and gravy to share with family and friends. Most of all, as life went on, Tony truly loved spending time with his children and cherished his grandchildren.
Survivors in addition to his father, Robert, include his son Michael (Carly) Tedesco of Bristol, Vt. and their children, Ava, Luke and Nolan; and son Anthony (Morgan Mehan) Tedesco of Stillwater and their children, Raegan and Ryan. Also, his brother and business partner John (Sheristin) Tedesco and nephew Johnny; former wife Nadine Kearney; extended family members and many amazing friends he made along the way.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, a celebration of life for family and friends will be held at a later date.
During this difficult time, friends and family are encouraged to visit www. devito-salvadorefh.com for directions and to leave condolences and share photos and special memories they have of Tony.