Rev. Msgr. Charles J. Fahey's Obituary
Rev. Msgr. Charles J. Fahey, 90, of Syracuse, passed away peacefully in his home at Nottingham Independent Living, a Loretto community, on November 5, 2023. Father Fahey was born in Baltimore, MD to the late Elizabeth and Charles J. Fahey, Sr. Father Fahey grew up in Syracuse graduating from Christian Brothers Academy and attended St. Bernard's Seminary.
As a young priest, Father Fahey went to work for Monsignor Daniel Lawler at the Syracuse Diocese. He was encouraged by Monsignor Lawler to concentrate his graduate studies in aging at the National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University in Washington, which launched a passion and commitment to aging services.
As the director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Syracuse, Father Fahey helped open five diocesan nursing homes and created Christopher Community, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Catholic Charities that developed specialized housing for the elderly and disabled. He was a charter member of the Federal Council on Aging and served during the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Through his work, there was a significant expansion of Loretto and the founding of the Program of All Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE).
Father Fahey was a founding member of the American Foundation for Aging Research, during which time he served as the Vatican spokesperson at the 1982 Vienna United Nations' World Assembly on Aging and as a United States delegate to the 2002 Madrid United Nations' World Assembly. He was also a professor emeritus at Fordham University in New York City, where he was Marie Ward Doty Professor of Aging Studies, and founded the Third Age Center in 1979.
Father Fahey's goal was to continuously bring people together to address the problems of the elderly and to envision long-term care beyond an institutional approach.
In addition to his parents, Father Fahey is predeceased by his life-long friend, Rev. Charles M. Major. He is survived by many close friends, including Rev. Charles Curran, Jack Balinsky and Sharon McAuliffe.
Calling hours will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at Epiphany Parish, (formerly St. Joseph the Worker Church) 1001 Tulip Street, Liverpool, NY. The Vigil for a Priest will follow the calling hours at 6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Msgr. Charles J. Fahey will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, November 10, 2023 at Epiphany Parish, followed by the Rite of Committal at St. Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Father Fahey may be made to Loretto Foundation, 700 East Brighton Ave., Syracuse, NY 13205 or ArchCare at www.archcare.org/donate/.
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