Former Denver police official who became priest in his 60s dies

Published: 2003-10-07

DENVER (CNS) -- Father John O'Shea, 69, a former Denver deputy police chief who suffered a heart attack just two days after being ordained a priest for the Denver Archdiocese June 7, died of pneumonia Oct. 2. The widower and father of 10 had been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. He died at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver was to celebrate his funeral Mass Oct. 8 at Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, with a homily by Auxiliary Bishop Jose H. Gomez. The affable Irishman took a circuitous route to the priesthood. A native of Denver, he attended Catholic schools and married after high school. He served four years in the Navy and then spent 25 years on the police force, working his way up through the ranks after starting out as a beat cop in 1961.

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