John Deedy, Catholic journalist and author, dies at 82

Published: 2006-03-29

ROCKPORT, Mass. (CNS) -- Catholic journalist and author John G. Deedy Jr. died March 28 at his home in Rockport. He was 82. His funeral was to be held March 31 at St. Joachim Church in Rockport, followed by burial at Locust Grove Cemetery in Lanesville. Deedy was founding editor of The Catholic Free Press, Worcester diocesan newspaper, 1951-59, editor of the Pittsburgh Catholic, 1959-67, and managing editor of Commonweal, a national lay Catholic magazine, 1967-78. He was also author or editor of 23 books, including two that won national book awards from the Catholic Press Association: "The Catholic Fact Book" in 1983 and "The Catholic Church in the Twentieth Century" in 2000. Deedy is survived by three brothers, four children and nine grandchildren. His wife of 55 years, Mary M. Deedy, died in 2004.

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